23 Members of the Fire Service Promoted
Two deputy assistant chiefs, six captains and 15 lieutenants were promoted during a promotions ceremony on Dec. 30. (R to L) DAC John Mooney, DAC Kevin Butler, Capt. Keith Faccilonga and Capt. John O'Connor prepare to receive their new ranks.
Many firefighters consider the FDNY to be their family, but for two members, the promotions ceremony on Dec. 30 actually was a family event.
Deputy Assistant Chief Jack Mooney from Div-1 was promoted during the ceremony along with his son, Lt. Shane Mooney from L-26.
They were among the two deputy assistant chiefs, six captains and 15 lieutenants who were promoted during a boisterous ceremony at the Fire Academy on Randalls Island.
“It’s not easy to move on to a different rank, the change is always tough, but you have a lot of support,” said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. “And this change means that both you and the job have made great progress.”
Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano added, “You are our future leaders and you will help us be better than ever before.”
Chief Mooney will now serve as Assistant Chief of Training. He has another son, Scott, who works as a firefighter at Ladder 58.
Lt. Shane Mooney holds a photo presented to him by Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano. The photo of DAC John Mooney holding his infant son, Shane, was taken on the day DAC Mooney was sworn in as a firefighter in 1978.
“This is a unique experience, to every son your father is your hero, but my father served a hero role,” said Lt. Mooney. “It is an honor to be promoted with him.”
While standing with his arm around his son, Chief Mooney said, “I didn’t teach my sons about firefighting, they taught me.”
Also promoted during the ceremony was Deputy Assistant Chief Kevin Butler from Div. 6, who will be assigned as the Bronx Borough Commander.
The event also marked the final promotions event for Commissioner Scoppetta, who, during his eight year tenure, has presided over promotional ceremonies for more than 3,000 members and the appointment of more than 6,000 firefighters.
The promoted members included:
To Deputy Assistant Chief
DC John T. Mooney, DIV-1
DC Kevin M. Butler, DIV-6
To Captain
Lt. Keith R. Faccilonga, B-13
Lt. John F. O'Connor, E-310
Lt. Sean S. Newman, L-9
Lt. Donald R. Hodgkinson, L-167
Lt. George W. Symon, L-153
Lt. Richard J. Gramolini, E-237
To Lieutenant
FF Brian Charles, L-108
FF Daniel P. O'Neill, L-28
FF Richard J. Sere Jr., E-9
FF Richard M. Wilde, E-236
FF David P. Solowitz, E-206
FF Scott M. Coyne, L-43
FF Todd J. Wanamaker, L-19
FF Patrick Grady, L-8
FF Shane Mooney, L-26
FF John P. Drew, L-120
FF Jeffery M. Ruffler, L-25
FF John M. Labarbera, L-147
FF Andrew C. Mastroberti, L-161
FF James E. Sicilian, L-115
FF Charles H. McNeely, E-76