Firefighter Nathan Herlocker was recognized as Outstanding Regional Fire Academy Instructor at the August 25 Botetourt County Board of Supervisors meeting. Herlocker, who has served as a Fire and EMS professional in Botetourt County for more than nine years, was nominated and elected by a majority of the Academy No. 26 attendees.
Herlocker, assigned currently to the Troutville firehouse, served as one of a cadre of instructors and assisted with the regional academy this year. “Nathan was selected by all of the students in the academy as the outstanding instructor and represented Botetourt County extremely well. I had a chance to join in on several of his presentations to the academy and it reflected great credit not only upon himself as an instructor but, more importantly, on the caliber of service and professionalism of our organization,” said Jason Ferguson, deputy chief of the Department of Fire & EMS.
Nathan Newville, one of Herlocker’s students now serving on Engine No. 7 of Station 7 at Read Mountain, was one of the students who voted for him during the nomination process. Newville recalled Herlocker’s expertise and comfort as a teacher: “I remember doing a basic pumps course and he was just so open to questions and professional … he knew what he was doing.”
