First Recruit Academy Under New Fire Chief Graduates

The City of Madison Fire Department will graduate 20 new firefighters from its recruit academy on Friday, January 18. It's the first class to graduate under Fire Chief Steve Davis. Davis has made diversity a centerpiece of the Department's recruitment strategy and the twenty recruits now completing their classes reflect that both demographically and through the broad range of experience they bring. Eighteen of the students are being funded under the federal Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant. The recruits began their studies with the Department on September 24. Commencement ceremonies will take place at 2:00 p.m. at Monona Terrace. Here are the recruits who will graduate: Angelo Aguirre is a former Aircraft Firefighting & Rescue Specialist with the United States Marine Corps Reserves. He was a paid on-call Firefighter/EMT with the Cottage Grove MN Fire Department until July of this year. Aguirre holds an Associate Degree in Applied Science - Music Business. He has also completed 23 credits in the Fire Science program through the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy. He holds certifications for Firefighter I & II, Airport Firefighter, HazMat Operations Core, National Registry Emergency Medical Technician, and Minnesota State EMT - Basic certifications. Amanda Baumann was previously an intern Firefighter/EMT with the Oregon Area Fire and EMS Department since June 2010. Baumann graduated from Brookfield East High School, and received her Bachelor's Degree in Communications from UW - Madison. Most recently, she was enrolled at MATC in the Fire Science/Paramedic Program. She has obtained her EMT Basic, Firefighter I/HazMat Operations, and Firefighter II certifications. Richard Garner was previously employed as an EMT with Ryan Brothers Ambulance. He successfully completed a two year internship as a Firefighter/EMT with the Maple Bluff Fire Department, and has continued to volunteer with their Department. Garner has completed 65 credits at the UW - Madison. He graduated from MATC - Madison with an Associate's Degree in Fire Protection Technician. He has obtained his Firefighter I/HazMat Operations, Firefighter II, Driver Operator-Pumper, Driver Operator-Aerial, EMT Basic and EMT Intermediate certifications. Jeffery Hafenstein was previously employed full-time with Quad Graphics as a Gatherer Operator. He has also been employed as a Firefighter/EMT with the Fox Lake Fire Department and with the Dodge County HazMat Team as a HazMat Technician. Hafenstein graduated from Waupun High School and has completed the Fire Service Program with Madison Area Technical College. He holds various certifications including his Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Fire Officer I, Fire Inspector I and EMT - Basic certifications. Christopher Heck was previously employed part-time as a Firefighter with the Lake County Fire Department and part-time as an EMT with Oregon Fire/EMS Department. Heck attended MATC - Madison where he received his Associate's Degree in Fire Protection Technician. He also attended the Paramedic program at Waukesha County Technical College. Heck has obtained his WI Firefighter I/HazMat Operations & Firefighter II, PADI Open Water SCUBA Diver, and State of WI EMT Basic certifications. Eric Isberner was previously employed full-time at Divine Savior Healthcare as a Paramedic. He has completed an internship with the City of Fitchburg Fire Department. Isberner graduated from Montello High School. He has earned his Associate's Degree in Accounting and his Paramedic License from MATC Madison. He also obtained his WI Firefighter I/HazMat Operations & Firefighter II certifications. Guy Johnson, Jr. was previously employed full-time as a Server at Johnny Delmonico's. He completed 8 credits at UW - Madison, and has completed the Firefighter Training Program at Hillsborough Community College. Brandon Jones was previously employed as a Manager with AT&T Uverse. He has completed post-secondary coursework at UW - Whitewater and Waukesha County Technical College. Jacob Kuehne was previously employed full-time with the Janesville Fire Department as a Firefighter/Paramedic, and part-time with the Milton Fire Department as a Firefghter/EMT. Kuehne graduated from Craig High School in Janesville. He received his Associate's Degree in Fire Protection from Madison Area Technical College and attained his EMT-Basic and EMT-Intermediate from Blackhawk Technical College. He also obtained his Firefighter I/HazMat Operations, Firefighter II, Driver/Operator-Pumper, Fire Inspector I and PADI certifications. Bennett Lardie was previously employed part-time as a Commander, and full-time as a Human Resource Specialist for the Army National Guard. He has also served as a paid on-call Firefighter with the Verona Fire Department. Lardie graduated from Poynette High School. He obtained an Associate's Degree in Arts and Science from UW - Baraboo-Sauk City and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Marketing from Edgewood College. He has also obtained his Firefighter I/HazMat Operations, Firefighter II, and American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR and AED certifications. Robinson Louis was previously employed full-time with AT&T Mobility as a Retail Sales Consultant. Louis graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School. He completed coursework at Mount Scenario College, a received a Bachelor of Science from UW - Stout. He obtained several non-fire related certifications while enlisted in the United States Army. Evan Morgan was previously employed as a Special Education Assistant by the Madison Metropolitan School District. Morgan graduated from West High School. He attended Kalamazoo College, MATC - Madison, UW - Madison and UW - Green Bay. He has obtained his Firefighter I/HazMat Operations and Firefighter II certifications and WI Department of Public Education License. Wade Nachreiner was previously employed full-time as a Maintenance Worker with the City of Sun Prairie Public Works Department. He has also served as a Firefighter/Lieutenant with the City of Fitchburg. Nachreiner graduated from Sun Prairie High School. He has studied Fire Science & Emergency Management at the University of Maryland, and completed coursework at Madison College. Nachreiner has obtained his Firefighter I & II, Driver/Operator - Pumper, EMT - Basic, Fire Inspector I, Driver/Operator - Aerial, Fire Officer I, and Fire Instructor I certifications. Michael O'Connell was previously employed as an EMT with Sunco Ambulance. He has also served as a Firefighter with the Rockland Volunteer Fire Department. O'Connell graduated from Lake Superior College, earning an Associate's Degree in Fire Technology and Administration. He is State of Michigan and State of Minnesota EMT-certified and has received his Firefighter I and Firefighter II certifications. Robert O'Hagen was previously employed full-time as a Sales Team Leader with Great Wolf Lodge. O'Hagen attended Western Illinois University, majoring in basic studies. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Northern Michigan University, and obtained his EMT - Basic certification from College of Lake County. Tyler Prothero was previously a Firefighter with the United States Forest Service in California. Prothero graduated from Baraboo High School. He attended Madison College, where he obtained an Associate's Degree in Fire Science. He holds Firefighter I and EMT-Basic certifications. Laura Prom was previously a volunteer Firefighter/EMT/Lieutenant with the Grafton Fire Department. She was also employed as an EMT with Ohana Ambulance, and as a Hazardous Materials Technician with the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Department. Prom graduated from Grafton High School. She received an Associate Degree from Fox Valley Technical College. Prom received her Firefighter/EMT certifications from Milwaukee Area Technical College, and her EMT-Paramedic Technical Diploma from Lakeshore Technical College. Justin Tews was previously employed part-time as a volunteer Firefighter/EMT with Mequon Fire Department, and part-time as a Firefighter/EMT with Richfield Fire Department. Tews graduated from Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School, and attended UW - West Bend and MATC - Milwaukee. He obtained his Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Driver Operator-Pumper, EMT Basic, and EMT Intermediate certifications. Sarah Thiel was previously employed as an Emergency Room Technician with Froedtert Hospital. She has also served as an EMT with Bell Ambulance in Milwaukee, WI. Thiel graduated from West DePere High School. She attended Northeast WI Technical College, graduated from Fox Valley Technical College with an Associate's Degree in Fire Protection Technician, and also attended UW-Milwaukee. She has obtained her EMT - Basic, Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Driver Operator-Pumper and Fire Inspector certifications. Brandon Troia was previously employed full-time as a Foreman with Spectrum Contracting. Troia graduated from Memorial High School. He attended Madison Area Technical College, where he received his Fire Service Certification. He has obtained his Firefighter I & II, EMT - Basic, and Driver/Operator-Pumper certification.