VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)– The Virginia Beach Fire Department named a master firefighter as their 2025 firefighter of the year.
Master Firefighter Matthew A. Schwaner was selected as the 2025 Virginia Beach Firefighter of the Year. This award is presented annually to a firefighter who exemplifies the department’s highest values and standards. Schwaner’s peers selected him for the award which as presented to him during the department’s annual awards ceremony.
Schwaner’s peers say he consistently demonstrates the core value’s of the department including service, caring, honesty, trust and integrity.
“Master Firefighter Matthew Schwaner exemplifies the highest standards of our profession. His relentless pursuit of excellence, innovative spirit, and profound impact on the Virginia Beach Fire Department make him a truly deserving recipient of this honor.” said Schwaner’s peers. “One standout example of his initiative was his voluntary outreach to the Department of Public Utilities and city engineers to gain a comprehensive understanding of Virginia Beach’s water distribution system. This effort, undertaken on his own time, enabled him to elevate the department’s Driver Pump Operator curriculum to new levels of precision and relevance.”…