Port Orange Fire Chief Tom Weber retires for new fire training post with Embry-Riddle

Photo by Henry Frederick / Port Orange Fire Chief Tom Weber, shown at far right, participated in a regional fire services meeting in New Smyrna Beach on March 11, 2010, regarding the prospect of joint fire services, which did not go beyond the discussion stages. On the left in the photo at that meeting is Edgewater Fire Chief Steve Cousins and in the middle is New Smyrna Beach Fire Chief David McAllister.

PORT ORANGE -- After 35 years of public service as a firefighter in Port Orange where he rose to the rank of chief, Tom Weber is turning to the private sector to continue his love of fire services.

The 54-year-old Weber, who holds a master's degree in public administration, will begin a new fire science program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. He had been fire chief since 2003, is president of the Florida Fire Chiefs Association. Before moving to Port Orange, Weber was fire chief in Manchester, Conn.

Weber's retirement took effect Thursday. Police Chief Gerald Monahan will now be the administrator of the fire department as well, but the two agencies will run independent of each other.

Ken Burgman, fire department operations chief, will report to Monahan just as he did to Weber. The administrative consolidation saves the city $117,000 in salary and benefits, City Manager Ken Parker said.

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