Cherokee County
Fire & Emergency Services
Fire & Emergency Services
Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) proudly celebrated the graduation of 21 fire recruits during a formal ceremony held Friday evening at First Baptist Church of Woodstock.
The ceremony began at 7:00 p.m. with an invocation by Fire Chaplain Mike Smith. Ms. Danielle Salabarria performed the National Anthem, followed by the presentation of the nation’s colors by the CCFES Honor Guard.
Division Chief Daniel Carder welcomed attendees, and Captain James Lussier introduced class representatives Dillon Heard and Andrew Dodd. Speaking on behalf of their class, Heard and Dodd expressed gratitude to the training staff, their families, and fellow recruits. They shared reflections on their transformation from diverse backgrounds—mechanics, cooks, construction workers—into a united team ready to serve their community.
Three distinguished awards were presented during the ceremony:
Douglas Clark Waters Jr. Award – Presented by Sergeant James Laughlin to Dillon Heard. This award honors the legacy of Sergeant Douglas Clark Waters Jr., a CCFES firefighter who tragically lost his life in the line of duty in 2003.
Pinnacle Award – The department’s highest recruit honor, presented by retired Battalion Chief Tom Pelletier. This year’s recipient was Scott Lingerfelt.
Jill Mabley Star of Life Award – Presented by Instructor Sandra Johnson to Andrew Dodd for outstanding performance in EMT and Advanced EMT training. The award is named in honor of longtime Medical Director Jill Mabley, MD, FACEP.
Deputy Chief of Operations Chad Davis addressed the audience, offering encouragement to the new graduates and their families. He acknowledged the hard work and sacrifices made during training and urged the recruits to carry pride in the badges they’ve earned.
Deputy Chief of Support Services Kevin Lanier recognized the efforts of the training division, administrative team, and field personnel. He highlighted the importance of this graduating class in achieving a major staffing milestone—meeting the department’s goal of a minimum of three firefighters on all engines and four on all aerial trucks—made possible by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners’ support.
Fire Chief Eddie Robinson delivered the closing remarks, congratulating the recruits and acknowledging the presence of retired firefighters, law enforcement officers, 911 operators, and veterans. He thanked the department’s staff for their commitment and assured the families that their loved ones are entering a career of purpose and protection. Chief Robinson offered parting advice to the graduates before officially swearing them in as firefighters. Family and friends joined the graduates on stage to pin their badges.
After nearly ten months of intensive training, the recruits are certified as Firefighter II and Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians. They will now begin their assignments across CCFES stations throughout Cherokee County.
The 2025 CCFES Recruit Class includes:
Gavin Brantley, Jake Cantrell, Michael Carlson, Nicholas Cass, Andrew Dodd, James Edmonds, Dillon Heard, Jack Heffernan, Tyler James, Dylan Leno, Scott Lingerfelt, Tyler Lipham, Kimberly McCarver, Jamie McCord Jr., Keaton Patterson, Joshua Potter, Tatum Schoonmaker, Dillon Shackelford, Porter Smith, Dominic Stell, and Wesley Veniskey.
Group Photo:
From L to R, Top Row: Dillon Heard, Tyler Lipham, Michael Carlson, Joshua Potter, Dylan Leno, Jack Heffernan, Jamie McCord Jr., Keaton Patterson.
Middle Row: Andrew Dodd, Nicholas Cass, Gavin Brantley, James Edmonds, Scott Lingerfelt, Wesley Veniskey, Dillon Shackelford.
Bottom Row: Kimberly McCarver, Jake Cantrell, Tyler James, Dominic Stell, Porter Smith, Tatum Schoonmaker.