Palm Coast, Florida – The Palm Coast Fire Department is excited to announce a wave of promotions that mark a significant milestone in the organization’s growth. Under the leadership of Chief Kyle Berryhill, the department proudly reveals advancements that reflect its commitment to excellence and its strategic succession planning.
Chief Kyle Berryhill is pleased to unveil the latest promotions within the department’s ranks, demonstrating a steadfast dedication to enhancing the organization. Among these notable advancements is the elevation of Driver Engineer Jeremy Barton to the role of Lieutenant, succeeding Lieutenant Matthew Stevens, who now holds the position of Lieutenant of Fire Prevention.
Continuing its emphasis on nurturing talent and ensuring a smooth transition of leadership, the fire department has promoted Firefighters Katelyn Baller, Fortunato Damiano, Joshua Meeker, and Oleksandr Nikolayev to driver engineer positions. These promotions align with the department’s succession planning efforts, which have been thoughtfully implemented to guarantee seamless progress and service delivery.
In line with its dedication to addressing evolving needs, the Palm Coast Fire Department is thrilled to welcome eight new firefighters to its esteemed team. Bruce Adams, Timothy Auerbach, Caleb Dann, Veronica Fernandez, Zachary Mahaney, Gunner Pemberton, Cameron Sena, and Jericho Taylor have all joined the department’s ranks since the beginning of this year. Their recruitment is a strategic response to the department’s goal of filling vacancies stemming from budgeted expansions in firefighter personnel, as well as recent retirements and promotions.
The newly promoted firefighters were honored in a special ceremony held at the Palm Coast Community Center, where they were proudly pinned by their loved ones. Chief Berryhill highlighted the significance of these advancements, emphasizing how the department’s well-established succession plan, conceived years ago, ensures a seamless transition of leadership.
Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin said, “Maintaining public safety and delivering excellent public service are a priority to Palm Coast’s quality of life. The Palm Coast Fire Department is unwavering in its commitment to residents and visitors, offering unparalleled service. As we recognize the contributions of retiring fire officers and welcome our newly promoted leaders, we also extend our congratulations to the career firefighters who embarked on their journey through our firefighter intern program. Under the guidance of Chief Berryhill, I am confident that each of you will continue to provide outstanding care and fire protection for Palm Coast. Success is only achieved through meticulous succession planning.”
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