City Manager Selects Jerome LaMoria to Lead Fire Department

PORTLAND, Maine – Today, Portland City Manager Mark Rees announced his appointment, subject to City Council confirmation, of Jerome LaMoria for the position of Portland Fire Chief (photos attached). His selection will be considered by the Portland City Council on December 17th. Most recently, LaMoria served as the Training and Exercise Coordinator for the Prince George’s County Office of Homeland Security. Prior to this position, he served with the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department for more than twenty-five years rising through the ranks to Acting Deputy Fire Chief of Emergency Operations until retirement from the department in November of 2011. With a career force of 765 and nearly one thousand volunteer response personnel, the Maryland Department responds to an average of 130,000 incidents annually and operates more than forty community fire stations with an annual budget of $130 million. Upon confirmation, LaMoria is expected to begin with the city January 3, 2013.

“LaMoria’s experience and understanding of emergency management, firefighting and medical services make him the right choice to lead the city’s Fire Department and I am excited to officially welcome him to Portland,” stated City Manager Rees. “I am confident that he will be able to help the department continue its progress towards building an efficient  effective organization that is able to respond, react and adjust quickly to any emergency, ensuring the safety of our residents and always doing so with kindness and respect for members of our community during very difficult circumstances.”

During his tenure at Prince George’s County, Maryland, LaMoria served in an executive leadership position in charge of all emergency services for a large progressive fire department. As Lieutenant Colonel (Acting Deputy Chief), he led the response to a number of large, complex emergency incidents for a diverse
community with a population of 800,000. The Emergency Operations Command provided emergency fire and rescue services including basic ambulance services, advanced life support, and specialized fire and rescue functions operating from forty-five community fire stations, divided into seven geographical battalions. In this capacity, LaMoria commanded multiple alarm building fires, mass casualty incidents, hazardous materials incidents, and special rescue operations.

In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, LaMoria was deployed to the disaster area for the recovery effort, Operation Lifeline, for the Jefferson Parish in Louisiana. The mission involved restoring public health services with approximately two hundred and fifty medical volunteers from Maryland. LaMoria served as executive officer and deputy incident commander during the three week mission. He was later recognized for the success of the effort and receiving the Maryland State Active Duty Medal.

LaMoria earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science from the University of Maryland, University College and maintains a number of certifications for firefighting, emergency services and fire service instruction. He plans to relocate to the area with his wife later this month.

LaMoria’s announcement concludes an extensive search process during which candidates were interviewed by city staff, fire and emergency medical services experts and underwent an assessment center.