On Thursday, September 14, 2017, the Southern Manatee Fire Rescue District conducted a badge pinning promotional ceremony for Deputy Chief Rick Blanco. Chief Blanco was promoted from Battalion Chief to the rank of Deputy Chief and assumed the roles and responsibilities as our new Operations Chief. Chief Blanco started with the District as a volunteer Firefighter back on May 5, 1991 and eventually became a paid member on March 7, 1994.
From March 1994 to present day, Chief Blanco has worked up the ranks from 1st Class Firefighter/EMT, Station Lieutenant, Battalion Chief and now Deputy Chief in charge of Operations. Chief Blanco is in charge of our apparatus maintenance program, apparatus replacement program and chairs our apparatus specification committee of which his leadership on this committee along with other Fire District employees has produced some of the best fire apparatus in years that really stands out here in Manatee County. Some recent examples of this is our new Pierce 107’ Ascendant Ladder Truck and new Battalion vehicle.
As a result of Deputy Chief Blanco getting promoted and vacating his Battalion Chief Position, the District held a Battalion Chief Assessment process and based on the results of this assessment process our #1 candidate was Lieutenant Adam Perry. On November 16th, 2017, the Southern Manatee Fire Rescue District Lieutenant Adam Perry was promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief and assumed the roles and responsibilities of the B-Shift Battalion Chief.
As a result of Battalion Chief Adam Perry getting promoted and vacating his Lieutenant Position, the District already had established a list of candidates for the position of Lieutenant through an assessment process less than a year ago and our candidate list is still valid so on November 16, 2017, the Southern Manatee Fire Rescue District promoted 1st Class Firefighter/EMT Dustin Daughtrey to the rank of Lieutenant. Lieutenant Daughtrey will assume the roles and responsibilities as the Station 1 A-Shift Lieutenant.
The District wishes to congratulation all of our recently promoted officers and we wish them the BEST in their positions.