Press releases

Battalion Chief receives Executive Fire Officers Certification

Edina, Minn., Oct. 25, 2007 – Battalion Chief Tom Schmitz recently graduated from the National Fire Academy with a certificate in the Executive Fire Officers Certification program.

Schmitz, who has been a member of the Edina Fire Department since 1993, was promoted to Battalion Chief in 1999. He serves an active role in training all Edina Firefighter/Paramedics and the Paid-On-Call members on fire department and special operations protocol.

The Executive Fire Officers Certification program is a four-year program that teaches chiefs and individuals with leadership roles in fire departments how to become better leaders and gives attendees fire safety perspectives from the national level. The program offers the most prestigious certification obtainable to fire chiefs in America. Only 5 percent of fire chiefs in the country have completed the Executive Fire Officers Certification program. Fire Chief Marty Scheerer and Assistant Fire Chief Darrell Todd have also completed the program.

“The Edina Fire Department is very proud of Battalion Chief Schmitz and congratulates him on his accomplishment,” said Fire Chief Marty Scheerer. “We strive to offer all our employees the opportunity to gain the highest education possible. Schmitz has done just that.”

For more information about the Edina Fire Department, visit www.CityofEdina.com/Fire.