Three Virginia men are vying for the opportunity to become chief of Loudoun Fire and Rescue.
Virginia Beach District Fire Chief Robert Alley, Portsmouth Fire Chief Joe Pozzo and Arlington County Assistant Fire Chief for Support Services John White were in Leesburg Monday for interviews.
Alley, who lives in Virginia Beach, has 32 years of volunteer and career experience with his fire and rescue department. He served as a volunteer firefighter for four years. After joining the career ranks, he held the positions of firefighter, fire inspector, lieutenant captain of Fire Training, battalion chief, and chief of Fire Training before becoming district fire chief in July 2001.
He has a masterÕs degree from Troy State University, a bachelorÕs in human resources management from Saint Leo University, and an associateÕs in fire science from Tidewater Community College. He has additional professional education.
Pozzo has been PortsmouthÕs chief since November 2002. He worked for more than 19 years for the Virginia Beach Fire Department, before joining Portsmouth. He has held the positions of firefighter, captain of Fire Operations, training division captain, fire operations/hazard materials captain, deputy fire marshal, battalion chief of Fire Operations and battalion chief for Health and Safety Division/EMS Services. He also was a paramedic for the city of Norfolk for five years.
Pozzo, who lives in Portsmouth, is working on his MPA at Troy State University. He holds a bachelorÕs degree in public administration from Saint Leo University and an associateÕs in fire science and protective services from Tidewater Community College. He has additional professional education.
White, a Herndon resident, has been Arlington CountyÕs assistant fire chief for support services since October 2001. He has been with the fire department for more than 25 years. His career began as a firefighter and paramedic. He also has held the positions of Emergency Medical Services supervisor, EMS shift commander, acting EMS operations division chief, battalion chief for EMS operations, battalion chief for fire operations and acting assistant fire chief for the Technical Services Division.
He has a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Catholic University. He is a 2002 graduate of the National Fire AcademyÕs Executive Officer Program.
A timetable for naming the new fire chief was not available on deadline. Howard Dawley is currently acting chief.
<1b>Ñ Andrea Zentz