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Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department ceremonies in August and September 2025 recognized dozens of promotions, four 30-year careers and crews whose emergency responses ranged from infant cardiac arrests to a capsized boat on the Potomac River.
Civilian promotions
Seven civilian members advanced to new positions:
- Kayla Pham, Financial Specialist II
- Leonard Wright, Apparatus Assistant Supervisor
- Nicholas Bowler, Fire Inspector III
- Scott Read, Code Specialist III
- Vickie Shorts, Fire Inspector IV
- Isaiah Tilles, Fire Inspector III
- Irby O’Neal, Fire Inspector III
Uniformed promotions
Daniel Gajewski was promoted to battalion chief.
Seven members became captains: Carlos Contreras, Adam Heming, Melanie Jenkins, Nathan Larkin, Richard Lathrop, Jonathan Long and Daniel Morrison.
Nine members advanced to lieutenant: Sidney Boyd, Heather Funkhouser, Jonathan Groves, Eric Hoffman, Loren Jewell, Casey Kipe, Luke Nuar, Jason Peterson and Robyn Wilkins.
Rachel Nevin was promoted to technician. Daniel Bourassa and Sean Roche were promoted to technician HazMat.
Three decades of service
Four department members were honored for 30 years of service: Captains Marc Davidson and Michael Greulich, Lieutenant Matthew Gambino and Firefighter Michael King.
Unit citations recognize critical responses
Personnel received a unit citation for responding in December 2024 to an incident involving a patient in active labor and an infant cardiac arrest. Those recognized were Captain Arthur Cox, Master Technician HazMat Brian Giller and Master Technician HazMat Chase of HazMat 440; Captain John Streeter and Volunteer ALS Command Officer Alan Woolf of EMS 403; Lieutenant Paul Serzan as ALS 403; Firefighters Shannon Lesefka and Harper James of Medic 421; and Dr. Scott Weir as OMD401.
Another citation honored responders to an infant cardiac arrest in January 2025. The group included Lieutenant Shawn Rappach, Technician HazMat Christopher Sherdel, Technician Won Lee and Firefighter Darrell Hayes of Rescue 411; Lieutenant John Winstead, EMS Technician Daniel Duarte, Technician Justin Richardson and Firefighter Christopher Murray of Tower 411; and Firefighters Jeffrey Early and Michael Kloosterboer of Ambulance 411.
Crews recognized for their response to a commercial building fire in March 2025 included Lieutenant Kirill Bondaruk, Technicians Frank Foreman and Mark Langmead, and Firefighter Hailey Moore of Truck 410; Lieutenant Felix Clement, Technician Lauren Wickson, and Firefighters Jake Rininger and Christopher Stevens of Engine 410; EMS Technician Shelita Allen and Firefighter Kevin Torres of Medic 410; and Firefighters Taylor White and Ryan Zimmerman of Ambulance 410.
Department members also received recognition for life-saving actions after a patient was stabbed in April 2025. The honorees were Battalion Chief Bryan Nix as Battalion Chief 406; Captain Karen Torpey as EMS 406; Lieutenant Laura Huggins, HazMat Technicians Kyle Gregg and John Wright, and Technician Ryan Chinn of Rescue 411; Lieutenant Matthew Sherwood, EMS Technician Zion David, and Firefighters Richard Cantarella and Nicholas Demaria of Truck 411; EMS Technician Timothy Sweeney and Firefighter Antonio Cipolla of Medic 411; and Firefighters Joshua Layman and Colin Reilly of Ambulance 411.
A final citation recognized crews that responded to a capsized boat on the Potomac River in May 2025. Those honored were Lieutenant Timothy Adams of Engine 439 and Master Technician Stephanie Leland, TROT Technician Ariel Banagan and TROT Technician Ian Richards of Rescue 439.