GREENVILLE — Greenville firefighter Cody Dirksen was sworn in as a lieutenant with the Greenville Fire Department, becoming the latest young leader promoted within the department.
Dirksen, a 2020 Mississinawa Valley High School graduate, played football, basketball and baseball for the Blackhawks. He served two years as a volunteer with the Union City, Ohio, Fire Department before joining Greenville’s department and quickly advancing through its ranks.
“I’m very excited to continue to be in the fire service, especially here with the city of Greenville,” Dirksen said. “It’s a great place to work, and I’m excited to help the next firefighters we hire and the younger guys continue their education and learn.”
Dirksen said close friends encouraged him to become involved with the Union City department near the end of high school.
“Ever since then, it just progressed, and I found more of a desire and more of a love for the fire service,” he said.
Dirksen has completed the department’s required Firefighter II and emergency medical technician certifications, as well as training in hazardous materials and rescue technician. He has also attended external training programs to keep up with changes in the fire service.
Greenville Mayor Jeff Whitaker said Fire Chief Russell Thompson has prepared the department’s younger members to accept leadership responsibilities.
“We have a lot of young leaders within our fire department, and Russ Thompson has done a great job as chief in getting these people ready for leadership roles,” Whitaker said. “It’s very exciting to see.”
Dirksen’s promotion followed the recent appointment of Wayne Bruening as captain and Jacob Garrison and Dylan Kolb as lieutenants.
“It’s wonderful to see, and we look forward to having a very long-serving fire department here in Greenville,” Whitaker said.
Thompson said Dirksen’s appointment completed a series of four promotions made during a two-week period. All three lieutenant positions have changed, requiring several upcoming shift changes.
“We’ll spend at least the next six months coaching and mentoring to get them where we need them to be,” Thompson said. “We have some challenges ahead of us, but we have a really great staff, and we’ll overcome all those changes.”
Greenville Safety Service Director Ryan Delk said the department has capable employees ready to accept additional responsibilities.
“No one is more deserving than Cody, along with all the other promotions we’ve done here recently,” Delk said. “It’s the next man up and just another prime example of it. It makes my job much easier when there are people willing and very capable of stepping into these positions.”
Whitaker said Greenville’s police department also has young leaders in its command staff, including Chief Ryan Benge and lieutenants Benjamin Boyer and Joseph Monnin.
“They’re all doing a great job,” Whitaker said. “It’s great for the city of Greenville. We’re moving forward into the future.”
