Margate Fire Chief Roberto Lorenzo. {City of Margate}
Margate’s Fire Chief has earned a high honor for his leadership skills.
In June, Roberto Lorenzo received the Chief Fire Officer designation through the Commission on Professional Credentialing under the Center for Public Safety Excellence in Reston, Virginia.
Lorenzo said it was considered a high honor in the firefighting profession. It shows that a fire chief has demonstrated solid leadership skills and a positive vision for the future.
Candidates are evaluated on experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement, and technical competency.
Lorenzo was tasked with finishing an 88-page document and citing 17 different competencies he had fulfilled. He also underwent a two-hour phone interview and was peer-reviewed by retired or current fire chiefs to demonstrate his areas of expertise. Additionally, he was asked to describe his approach to departmental leadership and community safety.
“I had to show where I am in my career, my vision for the fire department down the line, and my strategic goals. My focus is on enhancing our training division, supporting the mental health of our firefighters, and having a successful succession plan,” said Lorenzo.
One area he focused on is helping first responders who witness tragedy and suffering, which has led to creating a support team that includes a debriefing to help them manage the stress that often comes after a major incident and a therapy dog.
Lorenzo has ensured the department has high-quality protective gear that is properly maintained and stored.
Hired by the Margate Fire Department in 1998, Lorenzo was promoted to fire chief in July 2019.
“I credit the administrative staff for protecting and fulfilling the department’s mission,” he said. “My role is made easier because of the amazing work that our firefighter paramedics do daily.”
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