Orange County Fire Rescue honors members in 2021 Promotional Ceremony

The Orange County Fire Rescue honored some of its members last week at the 2021 Promotional Ceremony. 

On Thursday, Nov. 18, OCFRD celebrated a promotional ceremony for over 50 of its members including officers, firefighters and administrators. 

Those promoted included two division chiefs; Lauraleigh Avery with emergency operations and John Westmoreland with logistics; assistant chiefs, battalion chiefs, captains, lieutenants, engineers, fire inspectors, dispatch personnel and administrative positions.

Avery and Westmoreland were both sworn in by County Administrator Byron Brooks while officers, engineers and dispatchers were sworn in by Division Chief Michael Wajda.

“It was my honor to be a part of the recent promotional ceremony where we celebrated the achievements of many personnel into new roles in the Department," Fire Chief James Fitzgerald said. "The men and women promoted represent the very best of the fire service and their promotions were well deserved."

The ceremony, celebrated at Faith Assembly of God in Orlando, was the first one since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The evening concluded with a pinning ceremony where family members who once served or currently serve in either public safety or the military could do the honor of pinning the badge onto the uniform of their loved ones at the stage.