Ten New Long Beach Fire Dept. Captains Receive Their Badges, Add'l LBFD Personnel Promoted & Honored

(June 7, 2013) -- Ten new Long Beach Fire Department Captains received their badges, and a number of other LBFD employees were promoted and honored, in a June 6 ceremony at LBFD's Fire Training Center.

LBREPORT.com carried the event LIVE and provides on-demand video below.

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Fire Chief Mike DuRee noted that it was unusual to have ten new Captains promoted at the same time.

The new Captains' badges are on the top row, with badges for others promoted as also indicated below.

LBFD's new Captains are: Joshua Hogan, Michael Aguirre, Scott Lazenby, Paul Meisel, James Flint, Matthew Seybert, Chris Milburn, Ryan Waddell, Stephen Volz and Brian Wade.

Alan Powder was promoted to Marine Safety Captain. He received his badge from his father, Bill Powder.

Others LBFD personnel promoted and recognized were Rescue Boat Operators Ian Wenger and Jeff Williams; Firefighter of the Year Paul Rodriguez; Employee of the Year Jeremy Berryman; Dispatcher II Casey Ruby and LBFD Chaplain Tim Buzbee.

Among those attending the event were City Manager Pat West, Assistant City Manager Suzanne Frick, LBPD Deputy Chief Robert Luna, LBPD Chief of Staff Lisa Lopez and Administration Bureau Chief Braden Phillips.

The event included a special presentation of a U.S. Flag -- which flew over the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan on Sept. 11, 2011 -- which was presented to LBFD by Commander Steve Ruggiero, U.S Navy Reserve.