Well deserved recognition

 

Well deserved thanks from the Governor (Goochland County image.)

Last August, the Goochland Department of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services dedicated a new $1.5 million state-of-the-art live fire training facility. (See GOMM “Put the red stuff on the wet stuff” August 31, 2024, for details.)

At the May 6 meeting of the Goochland Board of Supervisors, Sonny Daniels, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security; Brad Creasy Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs; Spencer Willett, the Governor’s Government Affairs Manager; Ken Brown, former Goochland Fire-Rescue Chief; and, in absentia, Bettie Reeves-Noble of the Virginia Fire Services Board, on behalf of Governor Glen Youngkin,  formally presented Goochland Fire-Rescue with a Governor’s Fire Service award which was announced in February. The awards recognize agencies that demonstrate excellence, dedication, and leadership in fire service.

The three-year intensive process that transformed this facility from idea to reality is another instance where Goochland punches above its weight. Profitt guided the project through every twist and turn with laser focus on details.

These awards were established in 2002 to formally recognize excellence in the fire service. Members of the Fire Services Board, Department of Fire Programs, and two independent members of the public review nominations for these awards, explained Creasy. Each application is screened through two rounds of a highly competitive process to earn recommendations to the Governor.

The groundbreaking facility, said Creasy, enhances local and regional training capabilities, addresses challenges in conducting live fire training exercises, which teach trainees to deal with real world emergency scenarios in a safe and effective manner.

Willet introduced those in Goochland government who collaborated on the project, illustrating how many local “moving parts” were involved. These are Deputy Chief Mike Watkins, and Captain Brandon Profitt of the Goochland Fire-Rescue Training Division, who  led the effort and pulled all the pieces together; Rescue Lieutenant Danny Coughlin; Purchasing Director Mary Zapata; Finance Director Carla Cave; County Attorney Tara McGee; Building Official Gary Fisher; Interim County Administrator Manuel Alvarez, Jr.; General Services Manager Scott Foster, and Chief D. E.” Eddie” Ferguson, Jr. Each received a uniform ribbon and challenge coin.

Kudos to all for their hard work and dedication to public service.