Ormond
Benjamin Ormond has been named the next chief of Franklin Fire & Rescue.
The son of a firefighter, Ormond started his career with the Pactolus Volunteer Fire Department in Pitt County, North Carolina and has spent the last 16 years contracting for the US military in Iraq, Diego Garcia and the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Having seen so much of the world while on the job, Ormond said what matters to him at this stage of his career is planting his roots in a town that shares his passion for public service. He believes Franklin is exactly what he’s looking for.
“Military contracts are very much mission-focused, as they should be, but with that comes a continual rotation of leadership and personnel,” Ormond said. “You do not get to establish as much of a true family, community relationship like you do with a municipality. … Before applying for the position, I did my research, both on the department and the town. What I found was a community-conscious department that was steeped in a rich history of providing quality service to its citizens and a warm, welcoming town.”
The town searched for qualified candidates both inside and outside of the current fire staff following outgoing chief Matthew Breedlove’s September announcement that he would be accepting a detective position with the Macon County Sheriff’s Department. Town manager Summer Woodard said that Ormond stood above the rest because of his experience and education – he has a master’s in emergency services management, a bachelor’s in fire science, certifications as a fire officer IV, fire instructor III and fire inspector II and is a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers.
“Many well qualified applicants showed interest in the position, both locally and from afar,” Woodard said. “After careful consideration of the merits each applicant brought to the position and the needs of the fire department, Ormond was chosen to take on the role and to lead the department forward.”
Town Council fire liaison Dinah Mashburn also praised the selection, citing Ormond’s experience with managing both employees and volunteers as an asset to looking out for all of Franklin’s firefighters.
“Franklin Fire Department is a combination of volunteers and paid employees,” Mashburn said. “It was very important for the search committee to select a new chief who understood the value that both the volunteers and paid staff bring to the Franklin Fire Department. We felt that chief Ormond understood that value.”
While Ormond hasn’t started work yet, he has met with town officials, fire department staff and local residents and been pleased with his interactions with them.
“From what I have seen so far, I am very impressed and excited to get started,” Ormond said. “I have had the privilege to meet many of the members and found everyone to be a highly dedicated professional that truly loves serving their community. With this kind of dedication, there is nothing we cannot do.”
Ormond’s first day will be Jan. 4, 2021.