Cherokee County
Fire & Emergency Services
Fire & Emergency Services
Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) proudly celebrated the graduation of nineteen firefighter recruits during a ceremony held Friday evening at First Baptist Church of Woodstock.
The ceremony began at 7:00 p.m. with welcoming remarks from Division Chief Danny Carder, followed by an invocation from Fire Chaplain David Price. The National Anthem was performed by The Swafford Sisters, and the presentation of the colors was conducted by the CCFES Honor Guard.
Graduating recruits Graham Luca and Casey Little, selected as class spokespersons, addressed the audience and expressed gratitude to the training staff. They reflected on their journey through the academy and the transformation from a group of strangers into a unified team ready to serve the community.
Three awards were presented during the ceremony:
Douglas Clark Waters Jr. Award — Presented by Lieutenant James Lussier to Richie Jordan. The award honors Sergeant Douglas Clark Waters Jr., a Cherokee County firefighter who was killed in the line of duty in 2003.
Pinnacle Award — Presented by retired Battalion Chief Tom Pelletier, this is the highest honor awarded to a recruit. This year’s recipient was Preston Steele.
Jill Mabley Star of Life Award — Presented by Instructor Sandra Johnson to Casey Little 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 graduates, encouraging them to learn something new each day, learn from one another, and recognize their role as the future of the department.
Deputy Chief of Support Services Kevin Lanier congratulated the class and acknowledged the personal and professional responsibilities that accompany a career in the fire service. He also recognized the many members of the department whose dedication contributes to the success of the recruit training program.
Fire Chief Eddie Robinson delivered closing remarks, congratulating the graduates and recognizing retired firefighters, police officers, 911 operators, and veterans in attendance. He thanked the training and support staff for their commitment and reassured families of the department’s dedication to firefighter safety. Chief Robinson also honored members of CCFES lost to occupational cancer over the past year. Following his remarks, he administered the oath of office, and family members joined the graduates to pin their badges.
The newly sworn firefighters have completed nine months of rigorous training and earned certifications as Firefighter II and Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians. They will begin field operations at fire stations throughout Cherokee County on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
Graduating Recruits:
Camden Dunn, Trent Godfrey, Stephan Golding, Evan Hardy, Ian Hunt, Trent Johnson, Richie Jordan, Casey Little, Kaiden Lovato, Graham Luca, McKale McMullen, Mark Peaden, Samuel Phillips, Candace Robinson, Ayden Rodriguez, Preston Steele, Caleb Torrance, Luke Triola, and Juan Vargas-Gomez.
Group Photo (Graduating Recruits in blue, from Left to Right):
Top Row: Evan Hardy, Trent Johnson, Camden Dunn, McKale McMullen, Samuel Phillips, Graham Luca
Middle Row: Ian Hunt, Richie Jordan, Caleb Torrance, Trent Godfrey, Preston Steele, Juan Vargas-Gomez, Candace Robinson
Bottom Row: Casey Little, Stephan Golding, Ayden Rodriguez, Luke Triola, Kaiden Lovato, Mark Peaden