Justin Norman Honored - Brian Martin

Friday, February 13, 2009

At a ceremony held on Friday, February 6, Deputy Chief Justin Norman received the Joshua M. Freeman Valor Award from the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce. Justin joined the BBVFC in 1996 and has been an assistant fire chief for the past 6 years. This year, he was asked to fill the position of deputy fire chief and, like any good chief (and soon-to-be-husband), he checked with his fiancée and then enthusiastically accepted the challenge. He knew going in that this commitment would be more time-consuming and difficult than usual owing to the start-up of the new ambulance service for the Quiet Resorts. The deputy’s principal duties are to assist the fire chief with the day to day operations of the fire company and the ambulance service. Justin hit the ground running by updating existing standard operating guidelines and by creating new ones where needed. He was a leader in the four week training academy the BBVFC ran for its new firefighter/EMTs, including personally instructing classes and supervising training. He is also making a significant impact on the company’s overall readiness by spending many days and nights getting more members certified as apparatus operators. Having more drivers available reduces response times to your emergencies. In addition to his fire-related skills, Justin is also a nationally registered emergency medical technician and a member of the Sussex County Technical Rescue Team. I could list many more examples of his dedication, some great and some small, but all are appreciated by his colleagues. Not surprising to those who know him well is the fact that Justin is the first two-time Valor Award recipient. He received this honor last year for his dedication, commitment and service as an Ocean View police officer. Justin has three main motivations in his life-his God, his family, which now includes fiancée Shauna Jacobs, and his commitment to this community. Whether he is putting on his police uniform for a shift at the OVPD or his BBVFC turnout gear for a vehicle accident on the highway in Fenwick Island, we can all count on Justin to be there to protect and to serve. Our community is blessed to have such a dedicated professional looking out for us.