Franklin, TN – The Franklin Fire Department recently celebrated the graduation and badge pinning of 11 new firefighters, including the first graduates of its inaugural Internship Program. Five interns, two traditional recruits, and four lateral hires were among the honorees during the ceremony held October 10 at the Eastern Flank Event Facility.

The new Internship Program, launched this year after FFD lowered the hiring age from 21 to 18, was created to provide recent high school graduates ages 18 and 19 with an early career pathway into the fire service. As seasonal employees, interns trained alongside traditional recruits in FFD’s 500-hour Recruit Firefighter I & II Academy, approved by the Tennessee Commission on Firefighting and conducted at the Franklin Fire Department. 

During the ceremony, Franklin Fire Chief Glenn Johnson noted that the group represented three distinct paths to joining the department. He surprised the audience by announcing that all five interns had received full-time job offers with the department. “Each of our interns has officially received an offer to join the Franklin Fire Department as full-time firefighters,” Johnson said. “Congratulations. You’ve earned it.” 

Chief Johnson thanked the City of Franklin Human Resources Department for helping make the Internship Program possible and recognized FFD’s Training Division, including Battalion Chief Ben Marler, Captain-Paramedics Dustin Anderson and Shawn Donovan, Lead Instructor Firefighter David Konstant, Engineer-Paramedic Matthew Thomas, and all on-shift instructors, for their work in preparing the recruits.

He also encouraged the graduates to uphold the department’s core values of compassion, professionalism, and integrity. “Today, you’ll be awarded your badge,” Johnson said. “I’m going to challenge you every day to earn the badge that you’re about to put on. Honor your family, your friends, your community, and the brothers and sisters that you work with.” Each graduate was formally welcomed into the fire service as their loved ones pinned their new badges onto their uniforms.

Along with the five interns and two recruits, FFD also welcomed four experienced firefighters who joined the department as lateral hires.

Chief Johnson recognized special guests attending from Franklin’s Sister City of Bad Soden am Taunus, Germany, Fire Chief and Alderman Nick-Oliver Kromer and Hessian Police Officer Daniel Kropff.

Recruit Jacob Hendrix served as Class Spokesperson and received the Leadership Award, while Intern Charles Taylor earned the Top Academic Award, and Intern Drew Glover was recognized as Most Improved in Physical Fitness.

• Graduates:
• Interns: Noah Criado, Drew Glover, Henry O’Kelley, Charles Taylor, and Ben Walker
• Recruits: Jacob Hendrix and Bryan Pope
• Lateral Firefighters: Thomas Appel, Cody Campanali, Ty Siever, and Brandon Zeitlin

Watch the ceremony HERE.

Top Photo - Firefighter Academy Graduates Charles Taylor, Bryan Pope, Noah Criado, Ben Walker, Drew Glover, Jacob Hendrix, and Henry O’Kelley.

Bottom Photo - Lateral Hires Ty Siever, Thomas Appel, Brandon Zeitlin, and Cody Campanali.

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