The New Jersey State FMBA proudly hosts an annual awards presentation in April to recognize members of the organization who have gone beyond the overall call of duty in their communities to earn the title of “hero”. In addition, we also recognize several other Service Award recipients. These include a Humanitarian Award, the George Steele Award for Media, named after past NJ FMBA Secretary George Steele, The Mark Virag Brotherhood Award winner, named for past NJ FMBA Sergeant at Arms Mark Virag, and the Scott Garber Service Award, named for past NJ FMBA Trustee Chairman Scott Garber. The applications are reviewed by a panel of NJ FMBA members and Corporate Sponsors to determine the recipients.
The NJ FMBA Valor Awards Dinner will be held on April 25th, 2026 at the Pines Manor in Edison, NJ
Valor Award Recipients
Gold Medal of Valor
202 Captain Matthew Zaccone
2Firefighter John Jones
2Firefighter Jesus Perez
2Firefighter Jaquay Williams
2Firefighter Gabriel Velez
2Firefighter Kyle Williams
Silver Medal of Valor
7 Firefighter Jameel Sanders
207Lieutenant Ryan Szumski
Bronze Medal of Valor
68 Firefighter Doug Saffioti
68Firefighter Nick Cioffi
68Captain Tim Griffin
68Firefighter Chris Fazio
EMS Medal of Distinction
51 Firefighter Gary Pierce
Lifesaving
46 Firefighter Owen Tansey
Group Effort Fire
7 Firefighter Kevin Bulla
7Firefighter Michael Delafuente
7Firefighter Maleek McCauley
7Firefighter Quasan Spivey
7Firefighter Sarah Bosse
7Firefighter Abner Thelisma
7Firefighter Timothy Erber
7Firefighter Jameel Sanders
7Firefighter Justus Philibert
7Firefighter James Whitfield III
207Battalion Chief John Coppola
207Lieutenant Ryan Szumski
207Lieutenant Casey Kostick
207Lieutenant Johnathan Callands
207Interim Lieutenant Cazzie Brister
30Battalion Chief Tom Bottini
30Firefighter Kevin Guidicipietro
30Firefighter Christian DeEsposito
Group Effort Non-Fire
284 Battalion Chief Jason Ryan
284Captain Jarred Pierson
284Captain Christopher Rosati
84Firefighter Ryan Kocsak
84Firefighter Nicolas Skwara
84Firefighter Charles Shultis
84Firefighter Timothy Starr
84Firefighter Jason Peters
84Firefighter Brian Allen
84Firefighter Scott Totka
84Firefighter Elliott Anderson
84Firefighter Andrew Kmiecik
84Firefighter Clint Cavallo
Group Effort Medical
51 Battalion Chief Charles Sanderson
51Captain James O'Connor
51Firefighter Gary Pierce
51Firefighter Kyle Jeffries
51Firefighter Dan Hagan
51Firefighter Sam Driscoll
Multi-Jurisdictional Award
218 Chief Joseph Mastandrea
218Deputy Chief Bruce Kauffmann
218Acting Deputy Chief David Auerbach
218Captain Damian Caceres
218Captain Thomas McDermott
218Captain Michael Golon
218Captain Michael Kartanowicz
218Captain Victor Girdwood
18Firefighter Russel Richard
18Firefighter Javier Fandino
18Firefighter Justin Erezuma
18Firefighter Stephen Levchak
18Firefighter Jeremy Kook
18Firefighter Jerry Arruda
18Firefighter Juan Barroso
18Firefighter Michael Rudden
18Firefighter Martina Smith
18Firefighter Jason Montalvo
18Firefighter Thomas Witt
18Firefighter Edmund Mckeown
22Battalion Chief Joseph Faugno
22Captain Kevin Degaetano
22Firefighter Brian Alicia
22Firefighter Matthew Nicastro
22Captain Steve Fostek
22Firefighter Hector Londono
22Firefighter Ray Tremer
229Lieutenant David Lelinho
29Firefighter Rashaun Warren
29Firefighter Brian Antonio
Scott Garber Service Award
237 Battalion Chief Matt Lubin
Captain Mark Virag Brotherhood
209 Captain Mike Guarino
Local of the Year
177 177th Fighter Wing Local 177
Bobby Allen Legislative Excellence
Senator Vin Gopal
George Steele Media
Chief Billy Goldfedder, Firefighter Close Calls
Humanitarian
Commissioner Jacquelyn Suarez
Fraternal Brotherhood
President Wayne Blanchard, STFA