My recommendation for Apopka Fire Chief: JP Hodgkins

By Reggie Connell, Editor in Chief

Those of you who read The Voice of Apopka You know that while I write editorials, I don’t make recommendations and I don’t make predictions. But in this case, I’m going to break both rules.

JP Hodgkins will one day be the Chief of the Apopka Fire Department and I support his appointment.

It may be a few years away, but 18-year-old Hodgkins, who recently graduated from Apopka High School, is on the right track and has all the qualities he needs to be successful.

Hodgkins, an Eagle Scout with Troop 10 in Apopka, recently completed an impressive Eagle Scout project that brought a new recreation area to Fire Station 2. This initiative not only highlights his commitment to the community, but also provides local firefighters with a much-needed space to relax and unwind.

I contacted Hodgkins to learn more about the project, which he completed in May.

“Basically, it was about giving them a recreational area,” Hodgkins said. “Just a place to hang out, relax and enjoy nature. Sometimes they can’t do that because they’re at the fire station, but that was the goal of the project.”

When I asked him how long the project took, he had a follow-up question.

“Do you mean just the project… the construction or the whole plan behind it?” Hodgkins replied.

I was impressed that he had the presence of mind to break it down that way, and became more specific.

“I would go from planning to completion,” I said.

“The biggest part was planning,” he said. “The planning took two months. The labor part took a few hours and then the actual construction took two to three days.”

I also asked him about the funding for the project.

“So I raised money primarily through GoFundMe, friends and family,” Hodgkins said. “We did a car wash at Advanced Auto Parts on Rock Springs Road. Those were the two biggest donors.”

He also told me the amount he had raised for the project, but in doing so he demonstrated another of his management skills.

“So we have a total of… I need to make sure… it’s in the updated Eagle Scout project workbook,” he said, referring to his project notes. “It’s been a while since I did the project. Things aren’t fresh in my mind anymore. I apologize.”

“No problem,” I say. “If you just have an estimate, that would probably be fine.”

But Hodgkins clearly values ​​accuracy more than estimation – a quality that distinguishes good leaders and managers. A few seconds later, he has the number.

“The total amount raised was $1,468, and we spent it all.”

Hodgkins said he will attend First Response Training Group paramedic school, which he estimates will take two to three months, and then he will go to fire school at Seminole State College, where Hodgkins estimates he will spend two years earning his AAS degree in fire science.

His goal is to become a firefighter/paramedic with the AFD after graduating from Seminole State College.

Hodgkins also has a fondness for Apopka and its fire department.

“I always wanted to work for the Apopka Fire Department,” he said. “I never really wanted to go anywhere else.”

While in school, Hodgkins will continue to participate in the AFD Explorer program.

To become an Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout must meet several requirements and demonstrate leadership, service, and outdoor skills.

Here are the most important steps:

1. Advancement through the Ranks: A Scout must advance through the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star and Life before reaching Eagle Scout.

2. Earn Achievement Badges: A Scout must earn at least 21 achievement badges, including 13 required badges such as first aid, citizenship and personal fitness.

3. Hold leadership positions: The Scout must hold a leadership position for a specified period of time, such as Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, or other.

4. Service Project: The Scout must plan, develop and lead a service project that will benefit the community. This project requires a lot of effort and leadership and often involves raising funds, organizing volunteers and implementing the project plan.

5. Demonstrate Scout Spirit: The Scout must demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Promise and the Scout Laws in daily life.

6. Board of Examinations: After fulfilling all requirements, the Scout must pass a board of examinations. This is an interview with a group of Scout leaders.

7. Age requirement: All requirements must be met before the Scout’s 18th birthday.

“It takes a lot of dedication,” Hodgkins said. “Perseverance. You have to be very dedicated, the most important thing is the dedication to wanting to become an Eagle Scout.”

A fire chief must embody a blend of exceptional qualities to effectively lead and protect the community. Courage and resilience are fundamental, enabling the chief to face danger with unwavering resolve. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential for leading teams and coordinating complex emergency response efforts. Integrity and a commitment to public service foster trust and reliability within the department and community. A fire chief must also possess strategic thinking and adaptability, enabling him or her to make quick, informed decisions in high-pressure situations. Ultimately, the combination of these qualities ensures that a fire chief can lead with distinction, protect lives, and inspire confidence in his or her team and the public.

Does this sound like someone we know?

It will take JP Hodgkins a few more years to reach his goal of becoming a member of AFD, and perhaps decades more to make my prediction and endorsement come true, but he is an impressive young man who embodies the qualities needed to lead. He is the type of person who will be an asset to AFD and to Apopka.