Eighteen Graduate From Loudoun County Fire Recruit Academy

LEESBURG, VA — Eighteen people are starting their careers as Loudoun County firefighters and EMTs following a graduation ceremony held Aug. 16 at Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg. The 38th recruit class of Loudoun County Fire and Rescue will now be assigned to various fire and rescue stations throughout the county.

At the official ceremony and in front of family and friends, Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens swore in the recruits in preparation for their assignments. Deputy Chief of Training Randall Shank emceed the ceremony, and System Chief Keith Johnson and several training officers addressed the audience.

Graduating recruits completed an extensive academy that incorporated 1,000 hours of emergency medical technician and firefighting training into a 30-week program. Graduates of the 38th recruit class include:

• Delaunte Allen
• Arron Canfield
• Charlie Collins
• Carver Healey
• Christopher Hebert
• Nicholas Herring
• Michael Kennan
• Brendon Krone
• Gregory Morgan
• Allison Orlowski
• Jeremy Reeves
• Devan Shirk
• Adam Smith
• Kayla Smothers
• Jason-Paul Sta. Ana
• Matthew Tinkham
• Mark Trent
• Brady Winter

Special recognition was given to system members, including Allison Orlowski, who was designated the top recruit from the class. System officials said she “showed exemplary leadership, poise and dedication throughout the challenging program.”

The Lt. Alex J. Keepers Memorial Award winner for 38th recruit class was Brady Winter. The Lt. Alex J. Keepers Memorial Award was established in 2013 to memorialize Keepers, who was killed in a motor vehicle accident on his way to work in December 2007. It is awarded to recruits who made outstanding improvements during the recruit academy.

System Fire Chief Keith Johnson also highlighted the construction of a permanent memorial at the Loudoun County Oliver “O.R.” Dube Fire & Rescue Training Academy in honor of Keepers and his family.