The Tri-Town Ambulance committee will recommend Timothy Morrissey for chief of the ambulance service, committee chairman and Aquinnah police chief Randhi Belain said this week.

Mr. Morrissey is not licensed as a paramedic in Massachusetts and is in the process of scheduling a test date to become licensed. Mr. Belain said he will take the recommendation to the Chilmark selectmen after Mr. Morrissey passes the test. The selectmen are the financial managers of the service.

Originally from Vernon, Conn., Mr. Morrissey is currently a lieutenant for the Manchester, Conn., fire, rescue and emergency medical services department. He has been a paramedic since 1988 and holds a master’s degree in public administration.

“We’re looking for not only a paramedic but also somebody with some management style and leadership,” Mr. Belain said yesterday. “We think he will be a good ambulance chief and provide a better management service.”

Mr. Belain said the new chief will start as soon as possible; a pending contract requires him to begin in the next six months. Mr. Morrissey plans to move to the Island with his wife and 11-year-old son.

Reached by telephone yesterday, Mr. Morrissey said he looked forward to becoming part of the Vineyard community.

“We’ll get beyond [financial issues] in time, but we’ll work with what we have,” he said. “There are better days a head of us and I know there’s a good corps of people on the Island who work very hard day in and day out. We’re going to make this organization grow.”