Oak Ridge firefighters receive national designation

Four members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department have been notified that they have received the Fire Officer Designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

Captain Eric Mocsari, Firefighter Paramedic Steve London, Firefighter Engineer Thomas Giles, and Firefighter Engineer Ben Taylor have received notification from the CPSE that their professional portfolios have been peer reviewed for evaluation of knowledge, community involvement, professional contribution, and plans for future advancement. The Fire Officer Designation was awarded from that review, a press release said.

“A professional designation is recognition of broad career and educational professional accomplishments,” the release said.

Designations offered by the Commission on Professional Credentialing are internationally-recognized third-party verification of professional competence in fire and emergency services.

These four new designations bring the total number of professionally credentialed members within the department to 11 members holding 13 national designations. Presently the ORFD has nine designated Fire Officers, two designated Chief Fire Officers, a designated Chief Training Officer, and a designated Fire Marshal. A table from the CPSE below shows the number of designations across the country and the State of Tennessee and how the ORFD stacks up.

“It makes me very proud to see continued professional development by our members that is of some of the best in the nation,” Oak Ridge Deputy Fire Chief Josh Waldo said. “Many of these members have gotten to this point by sacrificing time away from their families, long hours in a classroom, and in some situations paying for things out of their own pocket. These new designations reinforce that the members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department are not only some of the best in the state but some of the best in the nation.”

These members will be formally recognized for their efforts at the Center for Public Safety Excellence Banquet in August that is held in conjunction with the International Association of Fire Chiefs Conference in Atlanta.

Captain Eric Mocsari joined the Oak Ridge Fire Department in 1992, and he is a veteran of the United States Air Force.

Mocsari leads Engine Company 3 on C shift, and he is also a flight nurse for the University of Tennessee Lifestar Aeromedical system.

He is married to his wife Malissa, and they have a daughter Whitney and son Michael, who recently enlisted in the United States Army.

Firefighter Paramedic Steve London joined the Oak Ridge Fire Department in 2008, and he currently works out of Fire Station 3 on C shift.

London has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, and he serves as a rescue diver for the Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad.

London also recently completed the very prestigious Georgia Smoke Divers course and now serves as an adjunct instructor for the program.

Firefighter Engineer Thomas Giles joined the Oak Ridge Fire Department in 2012, and he currently works out of Fire Station 3 on C shift.

Giles has a bachelor’s degree from Columbia Southern University, and he is a certified arson investigator through the State of Tennessee.

Giles is married to his wife Jamie, and they have a son Michael.

Firefighter Engineer Ben Taylor joined the Oak Ridge Fire Department in 2010, and he currently works out of Fire Station 4 on B shift.

Taylor is a hazardous materials specialist via the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and he also serves as a lieutenant for the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department.

Taylor is married to his wife Angela, and they have a son Benjamin.

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