Syracuse Fire Department Holds Annual Awards/Promotion Ceremony

Published on May 17, 2024

Syracuse, NY- Syracuse Firefighters were honored for acts of heroism and bravery for calendar year 2023 during a special ceremony at the National Veterans Center at Syracuse University on Monday Night. The Department also recognized firefighters promoted in the last year.

Family and friends of those being recognized were joined by Mayor Ben Walsh, Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, Fire Chief Michael Monds, Fire Department Command Staff, Congressman Brandon Williams, members of the Syracuse Common Council, members of the Onondaga County Legislature, and other local dignitaries. Mr. Dan Cummings was the master of ceremonies. 

The list below includes all of those firefighters honored at the May 13, 2024 ceremony.

Promotions

The following members were promoted in Calendar Year 2023. Their date of promotion and rank are included.

Name                                        Promoted to:                   Date of Promotion

Matthew Craner                        District Chief                      September 7, 2023

Joseph DiFabio                         Captain                              September 23, 2023

Lucas Tortarella                         District Chief                      October 25, 2023

Stephen Zingaro                        Captain                              October 25, 2023

Eric Jones                                  Captain                              October 25, 2023

Jamel Mitchell                             Captain                              October 25, 2023

Robert Brandt                              Lieutenant                         January 5, 2024

Matthew Cervino                         Lieutenant                          January 5, 2024

Brian Gotham                              Lieutenant                          January 5, 2024

Christopher Kurtz                         Lieutenant                         January 5, 2024

Colin Taisey                                  Lieutenant                         January 5, 2024

Michael Corbett                            District Chief                      February 6, 2024

Kevin Kamly                                 Lieutenant                          February 6, 2024

Gregory Kurtz                               Lieutenant                          February 6, 2024

Tony Morgan                                 Lieutenant                          April 18, 2024

Byron Griffin                                  Lieutenant                          April 18, 2024

Joseph Fabian                               Lieutenant                          April 18, 2024

Jamie Pinkley                                 Asst. Maint. Supt.              April 18, 2024

                                                                                               

 

Awards

 

The following awards and recipients are for actions that occurred at Fire Scenes, Hazardous Materials Responses, Rescues, and other emergency scenes.

Medal of Honor                 FF Kyle Wilmer             132 Lilac St.              Rescue Company

Medal of Honor                 FF Paul Lukacs             132 Lilac St.              Rescue Company

Valor Award                       FF John Tysco               704 Pond St.             Truck 2

Valor Award                       FF Thomas Petersen     704 Pond St.             Truck 2

Valor Award                       FF Antoine Tearney        216 Burdick Ave.       Truck 2

Valor Award                       FF James Peet II             216 Burdick Ave.       Truck 2

Valor Award                       Lt Richard Rothery         132 Lilac St.               Engine 1

Valor Award                       FF Kyle Kinsella              132 Lilac St.              Engine 1

 

Individual Citation         DPC James Farewell             821 E. Brighton Ave.      Command Staff

Individual Citation         DPC Nicholas Pagano           821 E. Brighton Ave.      Command Staff

Individual Citation         DC John Kilpatrick                 821 E. Brighton Ave.      Command Staff

Individual Citation         Capt. Brian Falise                   821 E. Brighton Ave.      Command Staff

Individual Citation         Capt. Matthew Craner            821 E. Brighton Ave.      Command Staff

Individual Citation         Lt Christopher Haley              821 E. Brighton Ave.      Command Staff

Individual Citation         Lt Geoffrey Westby                 821 E. Brighton Ave.      Command Staff

Individual Citation         Lt. Anthony Sterio                   821 E. Brighton Ave.      Command Staff

Individual Citation         Lt Paul Veri                               821 E. Brighton Ave.      Command Staff

Individual Citation         FF Brian Gotham                      216 Burdick Ave.        Squad Co.

Individual Citation         DC Adam Smith                        216 Burdick Ave         Car 4

 

Unit Citation                     HazMat Response Team       821 E. Brighton Ave.

 Lt Jeffrey Cole                 Lt. Christopher Duffy

FF Brian Green                 FF Joshua Griffin

FF Robert Brandt              FF Allen O'Neil

FF David Kiernan              FF Brian Schreiner

  

 Unit Citation                     Engine 2                      704 Pond St.

Lt Jeffrey Wisely               FF Jonathon Oswald

FF Joseph Coppola          FF Jonathan Boehm

 

Unit Citation                     Rescue Company         599 S. Salina St.

Lt Thomas Sexton IV       FF Gary Andrews

FF Gary Carfagno            FF William Lydon

FF Douglas Conklin II      FF Kyle Wilmer          

 

Unit Citation                     Squad Company           1741 W. Onondaga St.

Lt Jason Campanella       FF Ryan Woods

FF Jeffrey Dugan             FF Michael Corp                                                                                                            

 

Special Citation              Maintenance Division      821 E. Brighton Ave.     

Peter Bovalino                Michael Rittenhouse

Jacob Lyon                     Paul Tysco

Dan Green                      Richard Wood

William Senke 

 

Team Citation                  Truck 2                              704 Pond St.     

Capt. Luke Tortarella        FF Derek Foster

             

Team Citation                  Rescue Team 3               1741 W. Onondaga St

Capt. Greg Petersen       FF Peter Conover

                           

Team Citation                   Rescue Team 2             1741 W. Onondaga St.

FF Thomas Rotella Jr.      FF Gary Andrews

     

Team Citation                  Truck 8                             111 Smith Lane              

Lt Daniel Orr                    FF James Pinkley         

 

Team Citation                  Truck 8                              111 Smith Lane              

FF Conor Nolan               FF Patrick Halpin       

 

The Following awards are related to Actions on Emergency Medical and related alarms.

EMS Level 1                        Mini 1                                219 Walton St.

Lt Richard Rothery              FF Louis Parolin            

 

EMS Level 1                        Squad Company                219 Walton St.

Lt Casey Mack                    FF Kevin DeLong

FF Colin Taisey                   FF Leo Rogers

     

 

EMS Level 1                        Rescue Company                219 Walton St.

Lt Jeremy Burton                 FF Paul Lukacs

FF Gary Carfagno               FF William Lydon

FF Douglas Conklin II         FF Vincent Anastasi       

 

EMS Level 2                        Mini 3                                       400 Velasko Rd

FF Jordan Patrick                FF Tyler Scanlon

               

EMS Level 2                        Ambulance 3                            400 Velasko Rd

FF Jarett McMahon             FF Colin Taisey                    

 

EMS Level 2                        Squad Company                       400 Velasko Rd

FF Kevin DeLong                                                               

 

EMS Level 2                        Mini 17                                        432 Stafford Ave.

Lt Roseanne Wood-Rautenstrauch     FF Mohummed Atiyeh

 

EMS Level 2                        Medic 1                                       432 Stafford Ave.

Lt Geoffrey Westby

               

EMS Level 2                        Squad Company                        432 Stafford Ave.

Lt Eamon Coogan               FF Christian Dorn

FF Michael Heister              FF William Pace

               

EMS Level 2                        Mini 3                                           1101 S. Geddes St.

Lt John Suits                       FF Griffin Dupree

                               

EMS Level 2                        Squad Company                        1101 S. Geddes St.

Capt Jorge Rolon                FF Bret Whaley

FF Brian Gotham                FF Eric Wojtazsek

                               

EMS Level 2                        Mini 2                                             218 Carbon St.

Lt Rachel Wood                  FF Conrad Skrupa

                               

EMS Level 2                        Squad Company                            218 Carbon St.  

Lt Eamon Coogan               FF Christian Dorn

FF Michael Heister              FF Brandon Jennings

               

EMS Level 2                        Ambulance 4                                  132 Lilac St.

FF Tyler Scanlon                FF Frank Grippe

                               

EMS Level 2                        Engine 2                                          216 Burdick Ave.

FF Conrad Skrupa

                               

EMS Level 2                        SFD Ambulance                               216 Burdick Ave.              

Lt Christopher Haley            FF Alex Cimino

FF Connor Riggs

               

EMS Level 2                        Engine 9                                            215 Wilson St.

Lt Stephen Zingaro             FF Keith Love

FF Kerry King                     FF Casey Ravas

 

The remaining awards are given as special recognition for our members for contributions made outside of alarm responses.

Fire Chief’s Medal

District Chief Richard Buck for implementing the SFD’s District Chief Training Program

 

Mayor’s Achievement Award

FF Dave Corbett for his work with the Syracuse Area Salvation Army’s Christmas Bureau