(OCALA, FLORIDA) City Manager Rick Horst has named Deputy Chief John DeIorio as the next Fire Chief for Ocala Fire Rescue. The promotion will be effective January 19th, 2011. Chief DeIorio will replace Dan Gentry, who is retiring this month after serving 24 years with Ocala Fire Rescue. Chief DeIorio was hired as the Deputy Chief in August of 2010 as part of a succession planning effort.
Chief DeIorio has 26 years of fire service experience, starting as a firefighter with Palm Beach Fire Rescue in 1984 and retiring as the Acting Fire Chief in 2004. Chief DeIorio then worked for the Florida Division of State Fire Marshal at the Florida State Fire College as Domestic Security Coordinator, and with Marion County Fire Rescue as an Assistant Chief. Chief DeIorio and his wife, Elaine, reside in Marion County with their six children. Chief DeIorio has completed the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy and is a designated Chief Fire Officer through the Commission for Public Safety Excellence. Chief DeIorio is also a recent graduate of the Naval Post Graduate School’s Center for Defense and Homeland Security Master’s Degree program.
