East Lake Fire Rescue Honors Outgoing Chief; Welcomes New Chief

EAST LAKE, FL — East Lake Fire Rescue is now under new leadership.

The fire department held a change of command ceremony June 28 with outgoing Fire Chief Tom Jamison passing command of the department to new Fire Chief Jason Gennaro at the Calvary Church East Lake Campus, 1190 East Lake Road in Tarpon Springs.

The change of command ceremony is the symbolic movement of leadership and command between the two fire service officers.

Guests at the ceremony included East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District fire commissioners; state elected officials; members of local law enforcement agencies and fire departments; and community partners.

The ceremony began with a presentation of colors by the Palm Harbor Honor Guard and included honoring three retirees and recognizing 12 district promotions.

The ceremony also included the passing of the district "speaking trumpet" from Jamison to Gennaro. Speaking trumpets, or bugles, were historically used before the advent of modern communication tools as a means of calling orders to the firefighters on the scene of fires.

Jamison is a 29-year fire and emergency medical services veteran and was East Lake Fire Rescue's fire chief from 2011 to 2021.

East Lake Fire Commissioner Kevin Kenney received the chief's retirement notice in March.

"Chief Jamison is finishing a remarkable and distinguished career of service to the citizens of East Lake" said Kenney. "We are grateful for the organizational achievements that were accomplished during his years as chief, including becoming the Florida Association of Special Districts Manager of the Year in 2017; East Lake's selection as FASD District of the Year in 2019; earning the FASD Safety Award in 2020; the creation of organizational mission, vision and values; and boosting staffing levels to improve firefighter safety and provide better service to the residents of East Lake."

Gennaro will oversee East Lake Fire Rescue's $8 million budget and 42 employees in three fire stations serving the East Lake community. Operations include fire suppression, rescue, prevention, public education, hazardous materials response and emergency medical services.

Gennaro started his professional career 29 years ago when he volunteered for the Northwest Hernando County Fire Department. He became a professional firefighter less than a year later, then transferred to Pasco County Fire Rescue where he was a firefighter-paramedic until 1996.

He started serving the East Lake community as a firefighter-paramedic in 1996 and worked as a driver-engineer, lieutenant and deputy chief.

Gennaro holds a master of arts degree in public administration from Troy University and a bachelor of science degree in business from Hodges University. He also completed the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program and FASD-Certified District Manager Program.

"It will be an honor to lead the men and women of East Lake Fire Rescue and to serve the East Lake community," said Gennaro. "I look forward to developing long-lasting relationships with East Lake district personnel, fire commissioners, residents and district partners to achieve the mission of serving our community with the highest level of care, protection and education."