Two Finalists Picked for Rochester Fire Chief
Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - Two longtime senior members of the Rochester Fire Dept. have been selected as finalists for the fire chief position.
The Rochester Fire Civil Service Commission has certified Battalion Chief Eric Kerska and Deputy Chief Vance Swisher as the only finalists for the position currently held by Greg Martin, who is retiring next month. The two will take part in an employee forum and final interviews and then a recommendation will be made to the City Council for an appointment to be made by the end of June.
Kerska has served as a member of the Rochester Fire Department since 1994, including in the roles of firefighter and captain prior to his current position. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Winona State University and graduated with a Master’s degree from the US Army War College. Kerska is a retired Colonel in the US Army and National Guard.
Swisher was employed by the Cedar Rapids Fire Department prior to joining the Rochester Fire Department in 1999. He has served in the capacity of fire protection engineer, fire protection specialist, fire marshal, and most recently as the deputy chief of operations. Swisher has also served as Stewartville Fire Chief since 2014.
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