GAINESVILLE - Hall County Fire Services pinned and formally promoted about 20 Fire and Emergency Services officers at a ceremony Wednesday morning.
Fire Chief Jeff Hood delivered a keynote address. "Today we congratulate 20 career members who have successfully achieved the milestone of promotion. As I reviewed each of their personnel files, I was struck by a consistent theme by the seven criteria questions I have to consider for promotion... education, on the job performance, training disciplinary record, supervisory and leadership abilities and potential, ability to interact with the public and coworkers and experience. You are above average in all areas."
Tony Allen, Chad Dean, Josh Moreno, Shane Peck, Tommy Porter, Barney Williams, Michael Vieira and JR Tucker were all pinned as lieutenants. Zachary Brackett of professional standards and Kyle Powers, EMS coordinator, were both pinned as captains.
Christie Grice of business services, Tyler Dorsey of A Shift North, Kris Boggs of B Shift South and Rob Sanders of C-Shift South were pinned as battalion Chiefs. Al Lovingood of A-Shift, Bryan Cash of B-shift and Mark Arnold of C-shift were pinned as brigade commanders.
Jerry Smith and Rod Wilson were both pinned as assistant chiefs, and Chad Black was pinned as deputy fire chief. Deputy Fire Chief Black has over 30 years experience in fire services and was named interim deputy fire chief last year.
"It's a chance to help lead the department into the next future, said Black. "We've done our re-org, as Chief Hood said, this is a culmination of that and now it's time to take the next step. It's an honor to be asked to lead almost 400 men and women of the department."
Chief Hood ended his keynote with an encouragement. "Although you have reached this milestone, you are not done. My challenge to you is to never become comfortable where you are, but always prepare yourself to strive and reach the next great level, including and up to the chief of this department."
