Shawn VanDemark, New Smyrna Beach’s fire chief, is set to retire in October after 27 years of service to the city.
VanDemark announced his plans to City Manager Kevin Cowper in a Sept. 8 letter.
“Since beginning my career with the department in March of 1998, it has been my privilege and honor to serve the citizens of New Smyrna Beach and work alongside an exceptional team of professionals,” VanDemark wrote. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together in advancing the department’s mission, improving public safety, and supporting our community through times of need.”
According to a press release, VanDemark will stay on the role to assist with the leadership transition process. He will then join Volusia County Fire Rescue as operations chief.
“Shawn has overseen tremendous progress in our fire department and his departure is a huge loss to the City of New Smyrna Beach,” Cowper said in the release. “I want to congratulate him on his retirement and new professional opportunity.”
‘It has truly been an honor to serve’
VanDemark served as a firefighter with New Smyrna’s fire department from 1998-2005. He then served as driver engineer from 2005-08; lieutenant from 2008-10; battalion chief from 2010-17; and had been leading the fire department as chief since 2017.
During this time, he was named Firefighter of the Year in 2007, Volusia County Paramedic of the Year in 1999 and even tapped to lead the city’s COVID-19 response on March 9, 2020.
The city also celebrated VanDemark’s “legacy of volunteerism and community involvement,” including serving a “Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts leader as well as flag football and basketball coach” and served on “medical missions to Nicaragua and Haiti, an aid mission to Atlanta, and flood recovery efforts in Baton Rouge.”
“Expected to be named in the coming weeks, his successor will inherit the benefits of recent modernization efforts that include acquiring two new fire engines, two new ladder trucks and two new ambulances, in addition to the results of a compensation and classification study currently being conducted by consultant Evergreen Solutions,” the city added.
In his letter, Vandemark thanked the “support and encouragement” he received during his career with the city.
“As I transition into retirement, I remain committed to ensuring a smooth handoff of my responsibilities to support the continued success of the department,” the fire chief wrote.
“It has truly been an honor to serve.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: New Smyrna Beach Fire Chief Shawn VanDemark set to retire after 27 years of service
Reporting by Brenno Carillo, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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