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Orland Fire District Promotes Three Firefighters at Ceremony

Three people in formal uniforms standing in front of a fire protection district emblem.
Orland Fire Protection District promotional ceremony flyer for Thomas Panzica, Joseph Miller, and Jennifer Logan.
May contain: people, person, accessories, jewelry, ring, electronics, mobile phone, phone, adult, male, man, chair, furniture, glasses, clothing, footwear, shoe, officer, police officer, formal wear, tie, and captain
Uniformed men holding flags in a ceremonial setting.
A uniformed officer salutes in front of an American flag indoors.
A formal ceremony with uniformed officers seated, and one officer speaking at a podium with a flag nearby.
A person in a uniform speaks at a podium with a "Fire Protection Dist." emblem on the wall behind. A flag and two seated individuals are visible.
A person in a uniform speaks at a podium with an Orland Fire Protection District emblem and flag visible.
A fire department meeting with officials, a flag, a table displaying framed photos, helmets, and a banner for Orland Fire Protection District.
A framed photo, "Promotion to Engineer," badge, oath certificate, pen, and badge on a red tablecloth.
Two people are participating in a ceremony; one individual is in a suit, reading from a paper, and the other is in a uniform being sworn in.
A person in uniform with an American flag patch is having something pinned on by a man in a red shirt.
A person in a fire department uniform and a man are kissing, holding hands in a room with a Fire Protection sign.
Three people: two in uniforms, shaking hands, and one in a maroon shirt, standing in a room.
A person in a uniform next to someone in casual clothes with an American flag in the background.
Four people posing together, one in a uniform, with an American flag in the background.
Four people posing; one in a dress uniform, others casually dressed, with an American flag in the background.
Three people smiling, one in a formal uniform, standing together in front of an American flag.
Three people posing in front of the U.S. flag; one in a formal uniform, the others in casual attire.
Promotion to Lieutenant display with photo, badge, plaque, oath, and pen on a red table.
A firefighter in uniform takes an oath with a man holding a document, in front of an "Orland Fire Protection Dist." sign.
A person in a suit shakes hands with someone in a dress uniform. A badge reads "Orland Fire Protection Dist."
A firefighter in uniform with his family, including a woman, two children, and a toddler at a ceremony.
A person in a fire uniform speaks at a podium. Two others sit nearby, also in uniforms, next to a "Recording Secretary" sign.
A uniformed speaker at a podium addresses a meeting; the Orland Fire Protection District logo is behind him, and people are seated.
A firefighter in uniform poses with a woman and three children in front of a banner with "Orland" visible.
A group of people, including uniformed firefighters and children, pose for a photo in front of an Orland Fire Protection District sign.
A group of people, including firefighters in uniform, posing for a photo, with children, in a formal setting.
Three uniformed firefighters stand together, smiling inside a meeting room with the Orland Fire Protection District logo in the background.
Five men standing together, three in fire department uniforms and two in casual attire, in front of an Orland Fire Protection District logo.
A firefighter's helmet with a "Battalion Chief, Orland Fire District" badge and an American flag design.
A framed photo, firefighter helmet, badge, and an oath document on a red tablecloth.
A firefighter is being sworn in at a ceremony with officials present, showcasing uniforms and badges.
Two men shaking hands at an Orland Fire Protection meeting; one in uniform.
A young woman pins a badge on a uniformed officer during a ceremony. A badge and a "Protection" banner are in the background.
A firefighter in uniform stands with a young girl in front of a fire department emblem and meeting room setup.
A man speaks at a podium, facing a uniformed officer in a meeting room with a flag and plaque on the wall.
A man speaks at a podium with an Orland Fire Protection District sign behind; others in uniform are seated nearby in a formal setting.
Two people hugging, one in a fire department uniform. "Orland Fire Protection District" logo in the background.
A uniformed fire department official speaking at a podium with a flag in the foreground.
Two people in uniform shaking hands in an office setting. Plaques and a podium are in the background.
A group of seven people, including one in a uniform, pose together in front of a sign for the Orland Fire Protection District.
A group of seven people, including a uniformed officer, standing together in front of an Orland Fire Protection District sign.
Firefighters in uniform signing documents at a red-draped table.
Uniformed officers seated in a row at an indoor event, with other attendees in the background.
People in uniform and others in casual clothes seated in a room, likely attending a ceremony or event.
Five men in uniform pose together in an office-like setting with a logo background.
Five uniformed fire department personnel posing together indoors.
Six people, four in uniform, standing together, smiling. They're in front of a sign saying "Orland..." with a bear emblem.
Four people smiling in uniform with a fire department logo in the background.
Three uniformed firefighters standing in front of a fire department emblem.
Three men pose together, two in firefighter uniforms and one in casual attire, smiling at the camera.
Three people in firefighter uniforms stand in front of a "Fire Protection Dist." sign.
Cake with American flag design and "Congratulations on your Promotion!" written in blue icing.
Three people in formal uniforms standing in front of a fire protection district emblem.
Orland Fire Protection District promotional ceremony flyer for Thomas Panzica, Joseph Miller, and Jennifer Logan.
May contain: people, person, accessories, jewelry, ring, electronics, mobile phone, phone, adult, male, man, chair, furniture, glasses, clothing, footwear, shoe, officer, police officer, formal wear, tie, and captain
Uniformed men holding flags in a ceremonial setting.
A uniformed officer salutes in front of an American flag indoors.
A formal ceremony with uniformed officers seated, and one officer speaking at a podium with a flag nearby.
A person in a uniform speaks at a podium with a "Fire Protection Dist." emblem on the wall behind. A flag and two seated individuals are visible.
A person in a uniform speaks at a podium with an Orland Fire Protection District emblem and flag visible.
A fire department meeting with officials, a flag, a table displaying framed photos, helmets, and a banner for Orland Fire Protection District.
A framed photo, "Promotion to Engineer," badge, oath certificate, pen, and badge on a red tablecloth.
Two people are participating in a ceremony; one individual is in a suit, reading from a paper, and the other is in a uniform being sworn in.
A person in uniform with an American flag patch is having something pinned on by a man in a red shirt.
A person in a fire department uniform and a man are kissing, holding hands in a room with a Fire Protection sign.
Three people: two in uniforms, shaking hands, and one in a maroon shirt, standing in a room.
A person in a uniform next to someone in casual clothes with an American flag in the background.
Four people posing together, one in a uniform, with an American flag in the background.
Four people posing; one in a dress uniform, others casually dressed, with an American flag in the background.
Three people smiling, one in a formal uniform, standing together in front of an American flag.
Three people posing in front of the U.S. flag; one in a formal uniform, the others in casual attire.
Promotion to Lieutenant display with photo, badge, plaque, oath, and pen on a red table.
A firefighter in uniform takes an oath with a man holding a document, in front of an "Orland Fire Protection Dist." sign.
A person in a suit shakes hands with someone in a dress uniform. A badge reads "Orland Fire Protection Dist."
A firefighter in uniform with his family, including a woman, two children, and a toddler at a ceremony.
A person in a fire uniform speaks at a podium. Two others sit nearby, also in uniforms, next to a "Recording Secretary" sign.
A uniformed speaker at a podium addresses a meeting; the Orland Fire Protection District logo is behind him, and people are seated.
A firefighter in uniform poses with a woman and three children in front of a banner with "Orland" visible.
A group of people, including uniformed firefighters and children, pose for a photo in front of an Orland Fire Protection District sign.
A group of people, including firefighters in uniform, posing for a photo, with children, in a formal setting.
Three uniformed firefighters stand together, smiling inside a meeting room with the Orland Fire Protection District logo in the background.
Five men standing together, three in fire department uniforms and two in casual attire, in front of an Orland Fire Protection District logo.
A firefighter's helmet with a "Battalion Chief, Orland Fire District" badge and an American flag design.
A framed photo, firefighter helmet, badge, and an oath document on a red tablecloth.
A firefighter is being sworn in at a ceremony with officials present, showcasing uniforms and badges.
Two men shaking hands at an Orland Fire Protection meeting; one in uniform.
A young woman pins a badge on a uniformed officer during a ceremony. A badge and a "Protection" banner are in the background.
A firefighter in uniform stands with a young girl in front of a fire department emblem and meeting room setup.
A man speaks at a podium, facing a uniformed officer in a meeting room with a flag and plaque on the wall.
A man speaks at a podium with an Orland Fire Protection District sign behind; others in uniform are seated nearby in a formal setting.
Two people hugging, one in a fire department uniform. "Orland Fire Protection District" logo in the background.
A uniformed fire department official speaking at a podium with a flag in the foreground.
Two people in uniform shaking hands in an office setting. Plaques and a podium are in the background.
A group of seven people, including one in a uniform, pose together in front of a sign for the Orland Fire Protection District.
A group of seven people, including a uniformed officer, standing together in front of an Orland Fire Protection District sign.
Firefighters in uniform signing documents at a red-draped table.
Uniformed officers seated in a row at an indoor event, with other attendees in the background.
People in uniform and others in casual clothes seated in a room, likely attending a ceremony or event.
Five men in uniform pose together in an office-like setting with a logo background.
Five uniformed fire department personnel posing together indoors.
Six people, four in uniform, standing together, smiling. They're in front of a sign saying "Orland..." with a bear emblem.
Four people smiling in uniform with a fire department logo in the background.
Three uniformed firefighters standing in front of a fire department emblem.
Three men pose together, two in firefighter uniforms and one in casual attire, smiling at the camera.
Three people in firefighter uniforms stand in front of a "Fire Protection Dist." sign.
Cake with American flag design and "Congratulations on your Promotion!" written in blue icing.


Orland Park, IL – The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) promoted three Firefighters to the ranks of Engineer, Lieutenant and Battalion Chief at a special ceremony on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at the District’s Administrative office.  Joined by OFPD Trustees DJ Jeffers and Bridget Tolan, Commissioners Brian O’Neill and Mohammed Jaber, and District Firefighters and Local 2750, Interim Fire Chief John Purtill oversaw the Oath of Office ceremony for Jennifer Logan to the rank of Engineer, Joseph Miller to the rank of Lieutenant, and Thomas Panzica to the rank of Battalion Chief. Firefighters and the families of the three Firefighters joined in the ceremony. Family members pinned the promotions on each of the recipients. “These promotions signify more than a welcome, more than a new title or insignia. It represents years of dedication, continuous learning, improvement and mastery of critical skills needed for these demanding roles,” Purtill said in opening the ceremony following the posting of the Colors. “Becoming an Engineer, Lieutenant, and Battalion Chief is a testament to their hard work and commitment to better themselves, thus bettering the district.” Fire District Chaplain and Pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene John Vogel offered the invocation. The Oath of Office was administered to Logan, Miller and Panzica by Commissioner O’Neill.  

“We are grateful for this opportunity to honor and thank Jennifer Logan, Fire Fighter Joseph Miller, and Lieutenant Thomas Panzica, first, for their dedication in those roles, and second, for the personal sacrifice made to bring these ideas to others,” Vogel said.


Purtill offered perspective on the importance of each rank for each of the recipients. “The Engineer's role is essential to operations. They are the core of the fire apparatus, responsible for driving and maintaining the engine, operating complex pump systems and ensuring a reliable water supply to each incident, spotting the ladder in the most strategic spot for rescue, ventilation operations and emergency egresses,” Purtill said in introducing Logan and her family. “In the chaos of an emergency, the engineer is the calm professional making quick decisions to get the right equipment in the right place, ensuring effective firefighting and rescue operations.” Logan’s husband Patrick pinned her new rank badge.

Next, Purtill and the board acknowledged Miller. “Becoming a Lieutenant in the fire service reflects dedication, skill and leadership. It signifies a shift from individual tasks to supervising a team, ensuring their safety and guiding them through the challenges of the profession. The Lieutenant position requires decisiveness, accountability and the ability to lead by example, both at the scene and within the firehouse,” Purtill said of Miller.  “Joe has consistently shown the qualities of a leader. Dedication to training, strong work ethic, commitment to teamwork, ability to make decisions under pressure, compassion, ability to handle difficult situations, ability to think quickly, solve problems and a general, genuine commitment to safety and the well-being of fellow firefighters in the community.” Pinning the rank badge on Miller was his wife, Megan, and children Raegan, Marshall and Molly. In lieu of the customary conferment speech, Lieutenant Miller took the time to thank those instrumental in him achieving this rank.


Purtill and the board then acknowledged Panzica for promotion to Battalion Chief. “Tom has consistently demonstrated leadership and commitment throughout his career as a firefighter and lieutenant. Tom's individual dedication to serving the community and protecting the members has been unwavering. His spirit, pursuit of excellence, and ability to inspire others is evident. Tom has participated in almost everything that goes on around here in the last couple years,” Purtill said. Panzica’s badge was pinned by his daughter Kylie. His son, Sam Willis, offered a personal Conferment afterwards. “I want to thank Chief Purtill and the Fire District for this opportunity for the promotion. I want to congratulate Engineer Logan and Lieutenant Miller. They're going to do great things,” Panzica said. “Most of all, I want to thank my family for putting up with me during the past year with my studying and everything. And of course, I want to thank everybody here that came out, especially the Firefighters.”


Purtill closed the ceremony, saying, “Congratulations to our three newly promoted Firefighters. It's just a step in the process. We're getting bigger, faster and more calls every day. So, take every day as an opportunity to learn.”

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