Staff
David C. James, Fire-Rescue Chief
On September 1, 2007, David C. James became the first African American Fire-Rescue Chief in the history of the City of Delray Beach, Florida. Chief James is a native of Miami, Florida. He is a thirty-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, retiring in April 2004 as Chief of Emergency Medical Services. In November of 2004 Chief James became the first African American Deputy Fire Commissioner of EMS for the City of Buffalo, New York. He returned to Florida in 2006 and established a consulting business.
He holds a Bachelors Degree in Public Administration from Barry University and completed the Florida International University Academy for Strategic Management. He is a 2008 graduate of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Executive Education. He is a State Certified Paramedic and has held paramedic certification in the State of New York. He has also held certifications as rescue scuba diver, CPR Instructor, fire inspector, and marine fire fighter.
Chief James currently serves as President of the Fire Chiefs Association of Palm Beach County and is a member of the Rotary Club of Delray Beach. He is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
Russell Accardi, Assistant Chief, Operations
Russ Accardi became a Firefighter in 1982. He has been a member of the Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Department since 1989, and served as a Firefighter, Driver Engineer, Lieutenant, and promoted to Chief of the Training & Safety Division in 1998. In 2002 he was assigned as the Battalion Chief in charge of "B" shift.
Chief Accardi earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Thomas University in Miami, FL, where he graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors. He is also a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy. He has recently been accepted into the Masters Degree Program at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, through the Center for Homeland Defense and Security.
Chief Accardi has served as an instructor in various Special Operations disciplines including Dive Rescue, Hazardous Materials Technician, Confined Space, and Trench Rescue programs.
John Tomaszewski, Assistant Chief, Fire and Life Safety
John Tomaszewski is a third generation firefighter who started his career in the fire service in 1975. He has been a member of the Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Department since 1981, and has progressed through the ranks to his current position of Assistant Fire Chief. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire and Safety Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, where he graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors. He is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy and serves as an adjunct instructor in the Fire Science Program at Palm Beach Community College in Lake Worth, Florida.
Danielle Connor, Assistant Chief, Administration
Chief Connor is a second generation Firefighter and is the fifth family member to enter the fire service. She is a native Floridian who began her career with Delray Beach Fire-Rescue in 1993. She has progressed through the ranks of Firefighter, Paramedic, Driver Engineer, Lieutenant, and Division Chief, to her current position of Assistant Chief of Administration. Chief Connor earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, both from the University of New Haven. She also earned an Associates Degree in Nursing and is a graduate of the Emergency Services Leadership Institute of the University of Florida/Florida Fire Chiefs Association. She is currently enrolled in the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy.
Cecelia L. Shade, Administrative Officer
Cecelia Shade began her employment with the City of Delray Beach in May, 1995 as an Office Assistant I in the City Managers Office.
She began her career with Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Department on February 18, 1997 as a Staff Assistant I in the Fire Safety Division. She was reclassified to Staff Assistant II in October 1999. She was promoted to Executive Assistant to Fire-Rescue Chief in September 2004, and again to her current position as Administrative Officer in December 2008.
A native Floridian, and certified State of Florida Notary Public, she holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University), and a Master of Education Degree from Florida Atlantic University.
Victor B. Williams, Division Chief, Emergency Medical Services
Chief Williams is not only a native Floridian, he is also a native resident of Delray Beach. Nurtured by his family in the southwest section of town, he has never wandered away from home for any extended period of time.
After returning to Delray Beach from active duty in the United States Navy, Chief Williams joined the Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Department on November 30, 1992 as first generation firefighter.
He has served in the following capacities; Firefighter, Paramedic, EMS Training Lt. , Acting Division Chief of Training, and Shift Lieutenant.
Chief Williams holds an Associate Degree in Fire Science from Palm Beach Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organization Management from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a Masters Degree in Organization Leadership from Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Edward Crelin, Division Chief, Training and Logistics
Chief Crelin became a Firefighter in 1982. He has been a member of the Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Department since 1987. He has served as a Firefighter/EMT, Paramedic, Driver Engineer, Lieutenant, Special Operations Lieutenant, and EMS Supervisor.
In 2009, he was assigned as the Division Chief of Training and Safety.
Chief Crelin holds an Associates of Science in Emergency Medical Services from Broward College.
Chief Crelin is a member of the FL-5 Disaster Medical Assistance Team. He also holds a position with the State Fire Marshal’s Office Bureau of Fire Standards and Training.
Michael Twigger, Battalion Chief, A-Shift
twigger@mydelraybeach.com, (561) 243-7451
Mike Twigger has been a member of the Delray Beach Fire Rescue Department since 1991. He has served as a firefighter/paramedic, Paramedic Lieutenant-Training Division, Paramedic Lieutenant-Operations, Division Chief-Training Division, and Battalion Chief Operations. He is currently a certified Florida State Paramedic, Firefighter, and Instructor I. Chief Twigger is currently seeking an undergraduate degree in Organizational Leadership at St. Thomas University and has an Associates of Science Degree in Emergency Medical Services from Palm Beach Community College.
David Wetzel, Battalion Chief, B-Shift
Wetzel@mydelraybeach.com, (561) 243-7451
David Wetzel has been a member of the Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Department since 1991. He has served as a Firefighter/Paramedic, and Lieutenant. In 2009, he was assigned as the Battalion Chief in charge of “B” shift. He currently holds certifications as a Florida State Paramedic, Firefighter, Fire Inspector, Instructor 1, and a Hazardous Materials Technician. Chief Wetzel has earned an Associate of Science Degree in Fire Science from Broward Community College and a Fire Officer Certificate.
