Roanoke Fire-EMS Promotes Deputy Chief David Hoback
ROANOKE, VA - The City of Roanoke has promoted David Hoback as the Chief of Roanoke Fire-EMS effective yesterday, Jan. 29, 2007. Mr.Hoback has been serving as Acting Chief since July 2005. He brings 22 years of experience with the city's Fire-EMS Department to this position, including his services as a paramedic (1985-1989), EMS Field Supervisor (1989), Deputy Coordinator of Emergency Services (1989-1995), Battalion Chief (1995-2002), and Deputy Chief (2002-2007). Mr. Hoback was selected from a number of highly qualified candidates resulting from a national search.
He holds a B.A. in fire administration from Hampton University and was named an Executive Fire Officer with the National Fire Academy in 2002. He also earned the designation of Chief Executive Fire Officer in 2006. Prior to his employment with the city, he worked for Community Hospital as an Emergency Room Technician.
During his tenure as Acting Director for Roanoke Fire-EMS, Mr. Hoback has led in planning, directing and reviewing activities of personnel working in the areas of fire suppression, inspection, prevention, training, hazardous incidents, and emergency medical services.
Under his leadership, the department has expanded the Regional Recruit School to include Lynchburg City Fire-EMS, expanded regional cooperation with Roanoke County Mount Pleasant EMS responding into Garden City, and participated on the City's Code Enforcement Team. As Acting Fire Chief, Mr. Hoback also participated in civic programs, fire prevention and safety campaigns, and recommended programs that provide for the efficient and effective use of personnel and equipment to reduce fire losses within the city.
"David has proven himself an effective leader for our Fire-EMS Department," said City Manager Darlene Burcham. "I am confident his direction will be an asset to our city as we continue to modernize our fire and emergency medical facilities and services to be more responsive and accessible to citizens."
Author Note: The above was taken from a Roanoke City Press Release.
Historic Note: Chief David Hoback is the first Chief named since the Roanoke Fire Department and Roanoke City EMS Department merged in 1995. Former Chief Grigsby was named Chief several months prior to the merge.
27 comments:
Finally... a good move in the right direction!!
Maybe he will give the boot to the number 2 man? If he is smart this would put moral through the roof!! Good Luck Chief Hoback in your new postion we know you will do us right!
Is Hoback Moving into the City or Did they make wave the magic wand.
Heard this morning that he was or was looking at building a house in the city. Man, if the first thing he did was boot #2, the morale would be HIGH!!!
not being in the know, but an interested observer, what's the issue with the #2?
He's an ass. But on a non-negative note, Chief Hoback has been doing a great job we're lucky he got the chief job.
#2 is a very negitive person, 2nd in command chief. That loves to talk down to the employees, never a kind word, its all about him and what he has done,
sounds like a real joy - how close is he to retirement?
Lets all just hope thing will go in a good direction. I am confident that Hoback will do the right thing and not have too much pressure put on him from the uppers in the city. Ch 3 does need a reallity check and hope he reads into some of these things. It is time to give it a rest on the men, we do our job and do not need the BS that comes with some common sense stuff. Good luck Hoback. Lets work together to make the Dept. better than it is now.
The number 2 guy is a MICRO Manger and has no people skills at all! He thanks he knows it all and HE thanks he has never done anything wrong! He is a HUGE problem with morale. The Hoback move is a good thing for the department and he will move us forward! Good luck Chief Hoback and congrats!!
Hoback came in the back door, and is not a FF - but I'll give him a chance to see what he does.
Yes, chief 3 mistreats the men, but remember, he is a fall guy, there are those that outrank him and they haven't shut him down, so they share the blame.
Grigs and those in Admin. need to one day stop stepping on the FF's. I wish the union or the HR department would halt the mistreatment and loss of benefits.
How many people have quit over the last few years? Not retired, QUIT?
There are big problems and no one is correcting them.
Even a radical priest like myself would follow you if you would represent the men.
The ball is in your court Hoback, good luck.
blue ghost
Hey blue ghost, Who cares how he got here all we care about is can he do the job??? He in my eyes is a lot better then most before him! Hoback is a very smart person,He knows that Chief T is a problem and from what i have been told he will take care of him in time. Its time for him to retire,Hoback needs to start with a clean slate and put good people around him. Not people that have no respect from the rank and file of the fire department. I know alot of the people that have left the department really had alot of bad things to say about ralph in their exit interview. Only time will see if Hr and Hoback do something about it. Listen to the men chief!! and GOOD LUCK!!
Why did all the "Anonymous said..." not sign their name. They are sure doing a good job of kissing ass. They would be sure of a promotion.
Because, Ralph you would move us if we left our name. Thats the way you work.
Well big boy i see you did not sign your name either! You scared?
Ya I guess I am, IDIOT
How is Hoback going to surround himself with good poeple when he doesn,t know who they are.
They've moved and broke-up strong companys,you tell me he had nothing to do with that.
I think he's bite off more than he can chew.
Remember you need to learn to crawl before you walk, walk before you run. Himself and Altman could not get hire in the Fire Dept.Now there running the show(Dog & Pony Show)that is.
Dog and pony show? Take your ass some where else and work then jack ass!!!! This Fire EMS department is better today then its ever been! Pt care is better and the firefighters are better and more aggrasive then they ever been! In the old days we burnt the shit out of everthing and lost alot of roofs!!! Hoback is doing fine,Our only weakness in the chief under him!!!! So if you dont like it go work for salem or the county. And before you run that trap this is coming from a old timing blue patch!
You are a chipper group. Please remember to fight the fire if it breaks out rather than each other.
Don't worry, we bicker and fight amoung ourselves, but when the chips are down we always pull together and get the job done!
If i lived in the city i would worry.
old timing blue patch;
the department is not better, just different.
yes, patient care is better, cause we didn't do ems back then.
it would be better now if it were done by choice instead of force.
oops - we don't want to open that can of worms now do we ? ? ?
boy, there's alot of issues there - quick, let's change the subject -
FF's are now better and more aggressive? no, we don't fight fire better than we used to - but there are more boastful and glory seeking persons than we used to have - and that attitude is not discouraged downtown - can you guess why?
ralf? well, that's one point everybody agrees on - but if you think he's the only problem, you're crazy.
the dept. can only improve if we admit we have problems and work to correct them. Denial has been the standard for far too long.
and yes, I am a blue patch.
blue ghost
Well, the department is a good department, but better than it has ever been.....NOT A CHANCE. Firefighters more aggresive than ever....NOT A CHANCE. Things are different now. Two in - Two out rules prohibit fast fire attack. We used to jump off the tailboard, grab a hoseline and start attacking the fire before the second engine arrived. I was never on a fire that we lost control of. EVER. I think the person that made that comment was a former volunteer from one of our surrounding jurisdictions, because I use to hear that talk from the ticks all the time. It was pure jealousy. Yeah, just go ahead and think you are better than us old smoke eaters. Keep thinking that you are smarter and more aggresive. The graveyards are full of firefighters who think just like you. The sad thing is, you are most likely to take someone else with you, and they will pay the price for your arrogance. Grow up, and learn from those before you. They might be able to keep you from killing yourself, and others.
Hey blue patch ,,, I think you have been smoking to much dope on your days off ,like to ole blue patches used to do!!! I dont see injuries going up and i have not been to any funerals latley. The department is doing fine. And YES we are better today in all areas then we used to be!Hoback will take us in the right direction.
well said, enough said!!
I would like to see one thing taken care of by the NEW ADMINISTRATION, and thats a big pay raise for all the officers. A newly promoted Lt. is making less money than a new EMT-I. When both have the same hire date. That's wrong !! People are picked and promoted, by the Chiefs of this Dept. to do a good job, and to take on more responsibility in the department. Let's start paying for it. I know the EMT-I also has more responsibility doing their job, but they shouldn't make more than an officer, with the same amount of time in the CITY.
As Roanoke City resident, I'm glad that the Fire/EMS Department is mostly paid. I volunteered (EMS) for while and the standards, while they should be, weren't the same. I'm glad that there are standards that FF, EMT's etc must live up to. Hang in there guys, I think good things will come to you all soon! Thanks for all that you do!
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