Names in the News: August 21, 2022

TIM SZYMANSKI retired from Las Vegas (NV) Fire & Rescue (LVFR) as its public information officer (PIO) after a 50-plus-year fire service career, 26 of those with LVFR. His emergency responder career started after high school in Northfield, Ohio, as a cadet for the local Civil Air Patrol’s Search & Rescue team, leading him to join the Northfield Fire Department, where he worked as a firefighter-paramedic for eight years. He then worked for Gwinnett County (GA) Fire and Emergency Services as an EMT, an engineer, and eventually its first PIO. In 1987, Szymanski became chief of the Winder (GA) Fire Department. In 1992, he was hired as Atlanta (GA) Fire Rescue’s PIO for the 1996 Olympics.

BRIAN MARCOS was sworn in as the new chief of the Smyrna (GA) Fire Department (SFD) on August 15. He replaces former SFD Chief Roy Acree, who retired July 31 after 32 years with the department. Marcos had been serving as interim chief since June 24. He joined the SFD as a firefighter in 2006 and rose through the ranks to become its deputy chief in 2014. In 2020, Marcos was named Chief Fire Officer of the Year by the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs and named as one of the “50 Most Influential Hispanics in Georgia” by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

MARK ELDER was selected as the new chief of the Vernon Township (IN) Fire Department (VTFD). He had been serving as the department’s interim chief since June, when former VTFD chief Chad Abel stepped down from the role. Elder is a 35-year fire service veteran who was serving as the VTFD’s deputy chief. He began his career as a volunteer firefighter with the Fishers (IN) Fire Department, where he spent three decades and served as a company officer, a fire marshal, an administration chief, and an emergency management director. Elder also worked as an industrial firefighter for Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis, Indiana.

JOHNNY MARTINEZ was unanimously selected as the new chief of the Española (NM) Fire Department (EFD) on August 9. He had been serving as the AFD’s interim chief since April, when former EFD chief Ron Padilla retired. Martinez is a 16-year EFD veteran who has served the department most recently as its lieutenant since 2013. He has worked as a volunteer firefighter for Rio Arriba County since 2001 and helped establish the Agua Sana (NM) Volunteer Fire Department. Before becoming a full-time firefighter, Martinez worked in management for more than 20 years.

JEFF SCHOTT was unanimously confirmed as the new chief of the La Crosse (CA) Fire Department (LFD) by the city’s fire and police commission on August 17. He takes over the top spot from previous LFD chief Ken Gilliam, who left the department for a job in Arizona. Schott started his career with the LFD in 2000. He was promoted to battalion chief in 2018 and then became its interim assistant chief in April.