Someone asked me to publish the promotional list. This is something I was planning on doing on the IAFF site, but haven’t had time to do and this is easier. Since the Department does not publish the list anywhere for all to see, I don’t mind letting you all see where the candidates placed. As far as promotions go, there are rumors of making promotions, holding off until July 1, holding off until the next recruit school graduates, and there is also talk of getting rid of the 1st Lt. position all together. Unfortunately for all of us, we will just have to guess until it happens since it is hard to get a straight answer. This is an unofficial list. I apologize in advance for spelling errors.

Captains List:

1st Lieutenants List:

Lieutenants List:

If you have a complaint about the list, contact the complaint department. The number is:

I took the liberty of trying to save you guys some money on the books for the promotional reading list. If you were to purchase the books from the Firefighters Bookstore you are looking at spending almost $400 before shipping and handling. Good luck finding the study guide for Fire Department Company Officer. The 4th edition is already out and the 3rd edition can pretty much only be found used. Once you click on one of these, you can easily search through Amazon for other titles. I have just placed a link to each one. To get these great prices, many of the books are used, be sure to see what wear and tear the books have. With these prices you will save up to $110. However, I could not find Fire Officer’s Handbook of Tactics in the 2nd edition, but I did find the 3rd edition and there aren’t any used 3rd edition available.

The biggest savings is the Principles of Fire Protection – save over $80.

Don’t hold me to this being the exact books. I did my best to figure out the correct books and matching up the ISBN numbers. The only one that didn’t match is the Fire Officer’s Handbook.

I noticed that today was a lot busier traffic on the Roanoke Fire Blog than usual. I figure it is because you guys are looking for who got promoted maybe. I know that unofficial word is circulating the department. Maybe the memo listing the promotions is lost with the memo announcing the promotions (was I the only one to notice that there wasn’t any notice?). Anyways, I don’t want to hurt anyones feelings if I am wrong so I won’t list the unofficial list of promotions.

The promotions are official:

Captains
Clayton Martin
Phil Dillon

1st Lt.
Ellen Bender
Clarence Turpin

Lt.
Robert Reid
Dan Goodwin
Greg McCoy
Brian Adkins

Congratulations to all.

On June 28th, the promotional ceremony was held for the recent promotees. From L-R with their new rank 1st Lt. J.J. Price, Lt. Steve McFaden, Lt. Chris Franklin, 1st Lt. Tim Cady, Deputy Chief Billy Altman, Battalion Chief Teddy Adkins, 1st Lt. Scott Graham, Battalion Chief Kent McIlhany, Battalion Chief Dale Barker, Captain Ronnie Campbell, Deputy Chief Ralph Tartaglia, 1st Lt. Noel Gardner, Captain Loren Thompson, 1st Lt. Tom Mougin, and Captain Chuck Swecker. Not pictured is Lt. Joe Hodgin.

Here is Tyler and Scott Graham after the ceremony.
Thanks to Melanie Graham for the pictures. I appreciate it.

The word is that Ronnie “Chicken” Campbell has been appointed the position of Assistant Fire Marshal for the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department.

The official word has not been given at this time, however this came from a pretty reliable source.

Congratulations Chicken.

The unofficial word on recent promotions is as listed:

Billy Altman promoted to Deputy Chief
Dale Barker promoted to Battalion Chief
Theodore “Teddy” Adkins promoted to Battalion Chief

The word is that BC Barker will be assigned in operations and BC Adkins will be assigned in Training.

Again, this is unofficial.

Roanoke Fire-EMS has made some huge changes recently with more to come in the immediate future and even more on the horizon. Stations closing and being consolidated, companies taken out of service, apparatus changing designation, and now more promotions.

It has been several years since our last Battalion Chief promotion. Tomorrow, we will hear of several promotions up top. One Deputy Chief, and 3 BC’s spots will be filled ( I think that is the count, but you never know). The Assistant Chief of Operations will be redesignated Deputy Chief of Operations. A new Battalion Chief position will be added as well, although this might not happen until July 1. This new position is the EMS/Accreditation/ISO Battalion Chief from what I understand. The other two BC spots to be filled are Training and Northside C-shift. Depending on what happens filling the Deputy Chiefs spot, we might see another promotion.

Once all the top level spots are filled, there will be promotions in the field including Lieutenants, 1st Lieutenants, and Captains. The numbers are still up in the air for these.

The rookies will graduate recruit school on the 22nd and quickly be placed in the field. They will more than likely wait for their actual assignments until after promotions are finalized and the moves are made.

It seems as though there will be numerous moves this year due to the combination of #1 and #3, replacing E7 with M7, filling in for promotions, and making room for the rookies. Who will end up where?

Acting chief named head of Roanoke Fire-EMS
David Hoback said he looks forward to taking charge of the department’s direction.

Reed Williams

David Hoback, who started working as a city paramedic 22 years ago and rose through the ranks, has been named chief of Roanoke Fire-EMS.

Hoback, 44, had been acting chief since July 2005, when former chief Jim Grigsby became acting assistant city manager for operations. Hoback’s promotion was effective Monday and announced Tuesday.

He said he looks forward to taking charge of the department’s direction and addressing its challenges, such as how to go about replacing aging facilities.

“I want to move the department forward,” Hoback said Tuesday. (Read More)

Here are the newly promoted officers of the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department. They are from left to right, 1st Lieutenant Toby Bedwell, Captain Matt Dewhirst, Lieutenant Scott Bradford, Lieutenant Breck Hudson, Lieutenant Chuck Sharp, 1st Lieutenant Doug Hurd, Lieutenant Tina O’Brien, Lieutenant Tom Gherman, Captain Mike Rose, Captain Tim Parry, 1st Lieutenant David Bocock, and 1st Lieutenant Brent Berry. The new officers will be assigned to their new stations in January. Thanks to Mike Overacker of RoanokeFirefighters.com for the picture.

Congratulations to the newly promoted Captains, 1st Lieutenants, and Lieutenants. The following firefighters were promoted today.

Captain
Tim Parry
Mike Rose
Matt Dewhirst

1st Lieutenant
Toby Bedwell
Doug Hurd
David Bocock
Brent Berry

Lieutenant
Chuck Sharp
Tom Gherman
Tina O’Brien
Scott Bradford
Breck Hudson
Kevin Bradbury

From what I understand, today they are going to figure out promotions. The moves will follow next week and be effective the first week of January. I guess the waiting game will soon be over for many who are waiting to hear if they have been promoted and/or moved from their current assignment. I will post the news as it comes in over the next few days. Good luck to all of those who are promoted.

Retirement Party

Roanoke Fire-EMS is hosting a retirement party for Battalion Chief Billy Obenchain today at 11am at the Jefferson Center Atrium.