This year the Johnson City Fire Department has been a statewide leader in fire service professional designations through the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Commission on Professional Credentialing, a voluntary process of application and peer review to appropriately recognize top performers who have achieved a balance of education, experience, training and community involvement.

“One of the greatest recognitions that a fire department member may achieve is professional credentialing designation,” said Johnson City Fire Department Chief James Stables. “The Johnson City Fire Department is proud to have five of the 34 total Chief Fire Officers designated in the state of Tennessee, which is the most by a single agency in our state. We are also one of very few agencies that has a dual professionally designated member.”

This program requires a continuous commitment to individual professional development, with a three-year renewal requirement. The overall goal of the department is to have every eligible member work toward and ultimately achieve professional designation through this program.

The department members listed below have successfully achieved the following professional designations within the past year.

            David Harrison, Deputy Fire Chief - Chief Fire Officer (CFO)

            Jerome Palmer, District Chief - Chief Fire Officer (CFO)

            Jason Powell, District Chief - Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Chief EMS Officer (CEMSO)

            David Bell, District Chief - Fire Officer (FO)

            Jonathan Fulmer, District Chief - Chief Fire Officer (CFO)

            Allen Foshie, Lieutenant - Fire Officer (FO)

            Adam Momberger, Lieutenant - Fire Officer (FO)

These individuals are among the 94 Johnson City Fire Department members who have successfully completed various state certification programs this year, from entry level firefighter through chief fire officer training, completing approximately 8,300 total outside training contact hours, and successfully passing State of Tennessee Fire Commission testing for certification.

Additionally, several Johnson City Fire Department members are seeking or have completed formal education and advanced career field education from colleges, universities and the National Fire Academy, which is considered the United States premier fire rescue leadership training institution.

These outside trainings are required for members wishing to pursue promotion or enhanced operational capabilities. Before a member can serve as a career firefighter in Johnson City they must complete the minimum firefighter standards training of at least 400 hours, and then also complete specialty emergency medical services training after which, each member has firefighting in-service job-related training requirements of 240 hours minimum per year, per member.

“I commend these dedicated hard-working individuals for their personal commitment to lifelong professional development and their desire to represent the Johnson City Fire Department with dignity, honor and pride,” said Chief Stables. “The fire service community is well represented by these individuals.”

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