Alexander Parker, a Seabury Hall and University of Hawai‘i at Hilo graduate, has been promoted to assistant chief of operations for the Department of Fire and Public Safety. Courtesy photo

The Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety has promoted nearly two dozen department employees, ranging from firefighters rising up the ranks to two new battalion chiefs and a new assistant chief of operations.

Alexander Parker, a Seabury Hall and University of Hawai’i at Hilo graduate, has been promoted to assistant chief of operations.

According to the department, Parker joined Maui Fire in 2001. He was promoted to firefighter 3 in 2009 and worked in the training bureau at Wailea and Makawao. He became a captain in 2017 and a battalion chief in 2022. He now serves as assistant chief of operations.

Ryan Otsubo, who joined the department in 2002, was promoted to firefighter 3 in 2013. After his promotion to captain in 2019, he worked in the Training and Fire Prevention bureaus. He was promoted to battalion chief in 2023 and now serves as assistant chief of support services with his latest promotion.

R. Otsubo

Reza Azman, another longtime employee, joined the department in 2002. He was promoted to firefighter 3 in 2012 and captain in 2020. With his latest promotion, Azman now serves as one of the battalion chiefs for the second battalion. He graduated from Seabury Hall in 1994 and then attended the University of Oregon and University of Hawai’i, graduating in 2000.

R. Azman

Like Azman, Timothy Herrick joined the department in 2002. He was promoted to firefighter 3 in 2013 and captain in 2019. He now serves as a battalion chief for the first battalion.

T. Herrick

A graduate of Maui High in 1990, Alika Apana joined Maui Fire in 2005. He was promoted to firefighter 3 in 2020, and has now been promoted to captain. He will work on Lanai.

R. Apana

Simeon Alo, who joined the department in 2007, also has been promoted to captain and will also work on Lanai. Ryan Short, with Maui Fire since 2009, has been promoted to captain and will work in Hana.

Bronson Pocock, who joined the department in 2012, has been promoted to captain. He has worked in Pukoo and is currently assigned to Lahaina. Pocock graduated from King Kekaulike High School in 2003 and Washington State University in 2007.

Other promotions recewntly announced by the department include:

• Bradley Liu promoted to lieutenant.

• Brett Collett, Nathanael Ham, Vietnam Nguyen, La’akea Poepoe, Damien Boone, Joshua Guth and Travis Texeira promoted to firefighter 3.

• Koa Bonnell, Bryan Calvan, Wangdu Hovey, Marlon Lewis, Chayce Tancayo and Chad Tokunaga promoted to firefighter 2.