Battalion I includes Stations 3, 8, 11, 12
Battalion I Office is located at Station 11
A Shift - Battalion Chief Stephen Lesinski has served the Virginia Beach Fire Department since September 1985. Battalion Chief Lesinski has served in a variety of assignments within the department. He has been a member of the special operations division on the Hazardous Materials and Marine Teams and been a member of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team VA-TF2 as a Plans Manager. He is affiliated with the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association.
B Shift - Battalion Chief Paul Pureza joined the Virginia Beach Fire Department in January 1986. He currently serves as the Operations Battalion Chief of Battalion 1, B Shift. His assignments have included most of the operational spectrum; Engine, Ladder, Squad, Special Operations, VA-TF2, and Safety.
Battalion Chief Pureza holds an Associate's Degree in Fire Science, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Labor Safety and Health, and is a graduate of the Virginia Fire Officers Academy.
C Shift - Battalion Chief William (Billy) Reynolds has been in the fire service since 1997. Battalion Chief Reynolds is currently a member of VA-TF2 as a Logistics Specialist and was recently selected to be a part of the Hampton Roads Incident Management Team.
Battalion Chief Reynolds holds a Bachelor's Degree in Health and Physical Education and is working on completing his Master's Degree in Exercise Science.
Battalion II includes Stations 1, 2, 4, 7, 20
Battalion II Office is located at Station 2.
A Shift - Battalion Chief Joshua Goyet has been with the Virginia Beach Fire Department since 2002.
Battalion Chief Goyet holds a Bachelor's Degree from Old Dominion University in Exercise Science. He has served as a Hazardous Materials Technician, TRFA Instructor, holds a certification as a National Strength and Conditioning Association Specialist (NSCA), and serves as a PEER Fitness Trainer.
B Shift - Battalion Chief John Harvey joined the Virginia Beach Fire Department in 1981. He has operated in many roles within the department including line and staff functions. Battalion Chief Harvey is currently assigned to the Operations Division as Battalion 3 on C shift and is responsible for the coordination of the Fire Hydrant Maintenance Program, serving as the department’ s liaison with the City’s Public Utilities Department and assisting with the daily operations of the department’s staff scheduling program. In the past he has provided program management for the Department’s Safety Division as the department’s Safety Officer and special operations functions including the program management of the Hazardous Materials Team and daily operational management of the department’s Technical Rescue Team and the Tidewater Regional Technical Rescue Team as the lead agency.
Battalion Chief Harvey holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo University.
C Shift - Battalion Chief Deborah Gaudet joined the Virginia Beach Fire Department November 1995. She is currently assigned to the Operations Division in Battalion 2, C Shift. She is responsible for the daily supervision and management of operational activities, equipment, and personnel in her Battalion and responds to provide command and control of emergency incidents.
Battalion Chief Gaudet is an NFPA Appointee to the Technical Committee on Respiratory Protection Equipment and she is Pro Board Certified through the Fire Department Safety Officer's Association as an Incident Safety Officer and as a Health and Safety Officer. Additionally, she served with the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team VA-TF2 for nine years, first, as a Technical Information Specialist then as a Plans Officer.
Battalion Chief Gaudet holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Labor Safety and Health from the National Labor College, Silver Springs, Maryland.
Battalion III includes Stations 9, 10, 16, 18, 19
Battalion III Office is located at Station 18.
A Shift - Battalion Chief Perry Ehle
B Shift - Battalion Chief Claiborne Cofer joined the Virginia Beach Fire Department December 1989. He is currently assigned to Fire Operations as Battalion 3, B Shift. Battalion Chief Cofer is response for the daily supervision and management of operational activities, equipment, and personnel. He is also the department's ERS representative.
Battalion Chief Cofer is Pro Board Certified through the Fire Department Safety Officers Association as an Incident Safety Officer and a Health Safety Officer. He is a Hazardous Materials Specialist, Instructor III, Fire Officer II, and a National Registered Paramedic.
Battalion Chief Cofer holds a Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Health and Safety.
C Shift -Battalion Chief Timothy Riley joined the Virginia Beach Fire Department in July 1985. He is currently assigned to Battalion 3, C Shift.
Battalion Chief Riley has been a certified National Registry Paramedic since 1990, currently serves as a medical specialist for Virginia Task Force 2 Urban Search and Rescue Team, and is a tactical SWAT medic with the Norfolk Field Office of the F.B.I. He is a member of the Tidewater Emergency Medical Services STEMI Steering Committee and is affiliated with the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
Battalion Chief Riley holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Richmond in Human Resource Management with a minor in Leadership and ASA in Emergency Management from Tidewater Community College.
Battalion Chief Riley has been married to his wonderful wife, Molly, for 26 years, has two grown children, and two wonderful grandchildren.
Battalion IV includes Stations 5, 6, 13, 17, 21
Battalion IV Office is located at Station 21.
A Shift - Battalion Chief John Keyes has been with the Virginia Beach Fire Department since 1999. He is currently assigned to Battalion 4, A Shift.
His previous assignments include the Hazardous Materials Team, Technical Rescue Team, and Course Supervisor for the Virginia Beach Fire Academy. He is a Virginia Department of Fire Programs Adjunct Instructor and holds advanced degrees in Fire Science and Public Administration.
B Shift - Battalion Chief William Skelaney was promoted on August 18, 2010, after serving as a Captain for 21 years. He joined the Virginia Beach Fire Department on July 1, 1980. He is currently assigned to Battalion 4, B Shift, and is the Program Manager for the Wildland/Urban Interface Group (WUIG). Battalion Chief Skelaney is currently a member of the Hampton Roads Incident Management Team as a Division/Group Supervisor. He is also trained as a Hazardous Materials Technician.
Battalion Chief Skelaney is a Master Electrician with 36 years experience and also serves as a substitute teacher for elementary and middle school children at Great Bridge Christian Academy. He has been married to his wife, JoJo, for 31 years and has a daughter serving as a Teacher's Assistant and a son who is currently a United States Marine.
C Shift - Battalion Chief Leon Dextradeur joined the Virginia Beach Fire Department January 1983. He is currently assigned to the Operations Division, Battalion 2, C Shift.
Battalion Chief Dextradeur is Pro Board Certified through the Fire Department Safety Officers Association as an Incident Safety Officer and a Health Safety Officer. He is a Hazardous Materials Specialist, Instructor III, Fire Officer III, National Registered Paramedic, and Technical Rescue Instructor with the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. Battalion Chief Dextradeur is the Plans Section Chief for VA-TF2 Urban Search and Rescue Team with notable deployments to Oklahoma City, the Pentagon, Hurricanes Katrina, Frances, and Ivan, 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and the Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Battalion Chief Dextradeur holds a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Administration from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.
Battalion Chief Brian Taylor joined the Virginia Beach Fire Department on January 16, 1989. He is currently assigned to the Operations Division as Battalion 4 on C shift. He is responsible for the daily supervision and management of operational activities, equipment, and personnel in his battalion and responds to provide command and control of emergency incidents.
Chief Taylor serves as the Program Manager for the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Medical Strike Team, which is comprised of members from numerous Hampton Roads and Peninsula emergency services agencies. Chief Taylor is assigned to the Strike Team as an Operations Section Chief. Chief Taylor is also the Program Manager for the Virginia Beach Fire Department Pre-Incident Planning program.
Chief Taylor received his Associates Degree in Fire Science from Tidewater Community College and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management (minor in Leadership) from the University of Richmond.
