Career Staff

Home /

Career Staff

Christiana hired its first two full-time Firefighter/EMTs in 1994 to offset daily Fire/EMS staffing. Over the past 30 years we have gradually increased our career staff to 35 full-time employees.

In 2004 Christiana Career Staff started the first I.A.F.F. Union Local in Delaware for combination department firefighters, which has grown to over 150 members throughout New Castle County, also followed suite in Kent and Sussex Counties with their own locals.

CFC was the first combination department in the state to promote career employees into the officer ranks in 2012 with our first Career Assistant Chief, followed by our first Career Lieutenants in 2015.

Our career staff work seamlessly alongside of our volunteer officers and members to ensure we have a minimum of 1 Duty Chief, 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, and 3 BLS units staffed 24/7, 365.

Christiana strives to be the example of a successful combination system for our state and nation.

We currently employ:

1 Career Assistant Chief, 3 Captains, 1 Lieutenant, 16 Firefighters, 12 EMTs, a full-time administrator and a full-time mechanic. CFC also employs over 30 part time EMTs for BLS staffing.

Our Career Fire/EMS work a 4 Platoon rotation of 24hrs on and 72 hrs off. Each shift has 1 Capt./Lt. (Shift Commander), with 4 Firefighter/EMTs & 3 BLS EMTs.

Brandon Speakman

Brandon Speakman was hired in 2002 and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2015. Brandon was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2018 taking on responsibilities in addition to being a Shift Commander. In January of 2023 Brandon was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief of Career Services. In 2022 Brandon celebrated 20 years of service to Christiana, surpassing all employees in Christiana's history. Brandon has received numerous awards, citations, and honors throughout his career. Brandon helped to form and is a charter member of IAFF Local 4417, representing career Firefighters and EMTs across New Castle County. Brandon played a pivotal role in having legislation passed to allow paid firefighters throughout the state into the 20-year state pension. Brandon is a technician level member for the New Castle County Swift Water Rescue and High Angle/Confined Space rescue teams. Brandon previously served as Assistant Chief of the Port Penn Fire Company. Before his fire service career, Brandon served his nation as a combat medic with the United States Army.