Longtime South Florida fire rescue and EMS veteran, Chuck Lanza, 51, has recently been promoted to fire chief and executive director of BSO's 618 fire rescue employees.
Lanza succeeds Herminio Lorenzo, 57, who left the department on July 13 to head up Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue.
Lanza joined BSO in May 2003 as director of emergency management and homeland security, assisting Sheriff Ken Jenne in his duties as chair of the Southeast Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force. He was named deputy executive director of BSO Fire Rescue a few months ago, according to BSO.
Lanza's career started in 1978 at the Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Department, where he rose through the ranks from firefighter to deputy chief. Prior to joining BSO, he was director of Miami-Dade County's Office of Emergency Management. In 2002, Lanza was named Emergency Management Professional of the Year, BSO said.
Lanza has a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in health management. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Lynn University in Boca Raton.
