HomeMy WebLinkAboutEFD Promotions Essig Sandon
Contact: Jordan Gilgenbach, Communications Coordinator
952-826-0396 • jgilgenbach@ci.edina.mn.us • www.CityofEdina.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Two Promoted at Edina Fire Department
Edina, Minn., Sept. 7, 2011 – Craig Essig has been selected as the Edina Fire Department’s
Training & Safety Battalion Chief and Pat Sandon was promoted to Captain of the A-shift.
Essig succeeds former Training & Safety Battalion Chief Tom Schmitz, who accepted a new
position with the Eden Prairie Fire Department in August.
Essig joined the Edina Fire Department in 1998 as a paid-on-call firefighter before being hired
full-time as a paramedic/firefighter in 1999. He began his career in fire and emergency medical
services as a paid-on-call firefighter in 1994 with the Hopkins Fire Department. Most recently,
Essig served as Captain of the A-shift. Essig became a nationally registered paramedic in 1997.
He received his associate’s degree in fire science technology in 2007. In 2009, Essig earned a
public safety administration certificate from Hamline University.
As Training & Safety Battalion Chief, Essig is responsible for the development and maintenance
of the Fire Department’s professional and technical skills, Department safety, risk reduction,
OSHA compliance, safety training, accident reporting and supervision of paid-on-call firefighters.
“I am very excited and look forward to the change,” Essig said. “I am really looking forward to
learning new things and passing them on to the rest of the department.”
Sandon succeeds Essig as the A-shift Captain. He started with the Edina Fire Department in
1999 as a paid-on-call volunteer and has served as a paramedic/firefighter for the past eight
years. Sandon had also spent 16 years with the Hopkins Fire Department as a paid-on-call
volunteer and currently serves as Assistant Chief of Operations and Training there. Sandon
received a Para-medicine degree from Hibbing Community College.
As Captain of the A-shift, Sandon oversees the readiness of personnel, vehicles and equipment.
Sandon is responsible for group activities, performance and accomplishments.
In addition to the responsibilities of their new positions, both Essig and Sandon will continue to
maintain current duties as paramedics and firefighters.
“I anticipate [Essig and Sandon] excelling in their new roles with the Fire Department,” said Fire
Chief Marty Scheerer. “They have both shown tremendous leadership in the past and I look
forward to them growing with us in the future.”
For more information, visit www.CityofEdina.com/Fire.
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