Congratulations to Anthony Avillo; Fire Science Distinguished Alumni and Communiversity Coordinator; for his recent appointment to the position of Acting Chief of the North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue Department!

Deputy Chief Avillo was appointed on May 1, 2011 to the position of Acting Chief of the North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue Department (NHRFRD). A graduate of the New Jersey City University Fire Science Class of 2007, Anthony has over twenty-five years of service with the NHRFRD. Originally in 1984, Avillo was appointed to the Weehawken Fire Department before merging and becoming NHRFRD. His first promotion in 1992 was to the rank of Captain, followed by the advancement to Battalion Chief in 1996 and then in 2002 he was promoted to Deputy Chief.

After transferring to Jersey City State College in 1985 as a biology major, he took a reprieve from his education and concentrated on his family, career, and his second job. However, the value of education and personal growth was always important to Avillo and after speaking with Fire Science Chairperson, Kevin S. Malley… in 2001, back to NJCU Avillo came, but this time to study Fire Science!

Chief Avillo always had the desire to learn and during his college career, he let nothing stand in the way of his education. He was a Fire Officer, worked at least one other job, and he and his wife Nicole were raising two lovely daughters, Stephanie and Lindsay.

Avillo has also authored Fireground Strategies, 2^nd ed. (Penwell 2008) and Fireground Strategies Workbook Volume II (Penwell 2010). He has also created the DVD Series titled Tactical Perspectives which has been recently released by Fire Engineering.

Chief Avillo is a well respected family man, fire officer, author, instructor, and producer. I guess that’s what happens when you work so hard for so long; you don't get old, you just get better!

Happy Birthday!

May June 6^th find you in the better half of the century with the rest of us!