Names in the News
Augustus Beekman Heads New York Fire Department
Augustus Anthony Beekman was appointed the 23rd commissioner of the New York Fire Department. The 54year-old commissioner is the seventh in the history of the department to have come from within the ranks of the department, and the second black to achieve the top post.
Beekman joined the fire department on January 1, 1947. While in the department he received his B. A. in American history from City College, graduating magna cum laude and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He then went on to receive his master’s degree in political science at Queens College in 1978.
He was promoted to lieutenant in 1954, to captain in 1957, to battalion chief in 1963 and to deputy chief in 1966. In 1968, he was appointed to the top command level, serving as chief in charge of the Community Relations Bureau. In 1971, as assistant chief of department, Beekman took charge of fire fighting in Manhattan and the Bronx. In 1973, he was designated chief in charge, Division of Fire Control, where he directed all fire fighting in the city. In 1976, Beekman was put in charge of the department’s Division of Training, a position he held until his appointment as fire commissioner.
Beekman’s achievements while in the department include directing borough commands through the formative stage of the new Division of Fire Control; directing fire fighting operations efficiently despite budgetary cuts; presiding over the introduction of the management by objective program in fire control; improving the department’s liaison with other city agencies. For his achievements he was awarded the department’s administration medal in 1970, and was nominated again in 1976.
New San Jose Chief
Assistant Chief Vince Clet has been appointed chief of the San Jose, Calif., Fire Department, effective March 27. He replaces John Gerhard, who retired earlier in March after 30 years of service.
A 15-year veteran, Clet was chosen from a field of seven candidates, all from within the department.
He joined the fire department in 1963, after two years as a fire fighter in Mountain View, Calif. He was promoted to fire inspector in 1966 and to captain two years later. He was fire department training officer from 1972 until his appointment as battalion chief in 1974. He was named assistant chief in charge of the support bureau in April 1977. Clet has placed first in every promotional examination he has taken within the department.
He holds associate of arts degrees in fire science and in social science from San Jose City College, where he has been an instructor for five years.
As fire chief, he leads a force that serves a rapidly growing city of 585,000 in a 150square-mile area. The department includes some 700 personnel in 27 stations, administrative offices, fire prevention bureau, training center and automotive shop.
New Tucson Deputy Chief
Assistant Chief Richard M. Moreno has been named deputy chief of the Tucson, Ariz., Fire Department’s Resources Division. In this capacity he will be in charge of the training, supply, maintenance and technical services sections that constitute the Resource Division.
Moreno has been with the department for the past 18 years. He has a bachelor of arts degree in education from the University of Arizona and is currently working towards his master’s degree in educational administration. His professional affiliations include the National Education Association, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the California Fire Chiefs Association.
Army Chief Retires
W. C. Horn, chief of the Ft. Sam Houston, Tex., Fire Department for the last six years, retired in February.
Horn started his fire fighting career as a junior volunteer fireman with the Alamo Heights, Tex., Fire Department while a high school student. After graduating, he became a senior volunteer fireman while attending a business college.
He attended the Fireman’s Training School at Texas A&M University in 1939 and 1940. In 1941, he became a fire fighter at Ft. Sam Houston. In October 1942, he joined the Army, remaining at Ft. Sam Houston assigned to the War Department Personnel Center at Dodd Field. Upon his discharge, he rejoined the fire department.
Horn has held every position with the post’s fire department. In 1948, he was promoted to fire captain and in 1962 became assistant chief. In December 1971, he was named chief.
He has been instructor and project coordinator at the Texas Fireman’s Training School for a number of years, and plans to continue this activity in retirement. He also will remain a volunteer fire fighter in the Alamo Heights Fire Department.
Fire Academy Post Filled
The National Fire Academy has a new deputy superintendent, Edward J. Rollins, the third person to fill this position. He succeeds Anthony R. Granito, who has returned to the National Fire Protection Association.
Rollins was vice president of Ryland Research, Inc., and worked in Washington, D. C., for the California systems research firm. Previously, he had worked for the Federal Railroad Administration as executive assistant and deputy assistant secretary for congressional and intergovernmental affairs’. For three years he was assistant vice chancellor for campus affairs at Washington University in St. Louis and held jobs with the California legislature.
Rollins was appointed by Howard D. Tipton, administrator of the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration, who commented, “We are fortunate to have someone with Mr. Rollins’ background assume the responsible and demanding role of deputy superintendent.”
Michalak Retires
Edward V. Michalak will retire as head of the Camden, N. J., Fire Department on July I, after serving 13 years as chief.
Michalak, a veteran of 36 years with the department, was appointed a fire fighter on July 15, 1942, was promoted to captain in 1951, and to battalion chief in 1959.
During his service, he was awarded departmental citations for the saving of a life on four occasions.
A charter member of Local 788, he was also a charter member and past president of the Camden Fire Officers Association. Active in county associations, Michalak was treasurer of the Camden County Hero Scholarship Association and has been a past director the Camden County Fire Chiefs Association.
Bend, Ore., Promotions
Two new assistant chiefs have been named in the Bend, Ore., Fire Department. They are Neil Hamilton who is assistant chief/fire marshal and Darrold Barber who is assistant chief/operations officer. These promotions were brought about by the retirement of Assistant Chief Robert S. Anderson after 31 years service.
Hamilton joined the department in 1972 as fire marshal. Prior to coming to Bend, he was a volunteer fire fighter for the Four Corners Rural Fire Protection District (Marion County Rural Fire Protection District No. 1) from 1960 to 1965. He became a paid member and fire marshal in 1965 and was named fire marshal/battalion chief in 1967. He is a past president of the Oregon Fire Marshals Association and is presently on the board of directors.
Barber joined the department in 1943 and was named volunteer captain in 1950. He joined the paid department in 1953 and was promoted to captain in 1965.
