VW independent/submitted information
Van Wert Mayor Ken Markward (right) swears in newly-promoted Fire Captain Brian Ankney .
VWFD photos
Lt. Brian Ankney was promoted to the rank of captain, while Austin Miller will replace Ankney as a fire lieutenant.
Ankney firefighting career began in 1989 with the Paulding Volunteer Fire Department and he attained his certification as a volunteer firefighter in June 1990. In March 1998, he earned his Firefighter 1 certification and, three months later, in June 1998, he became a fire instructor.
Ankney earned EMT-Basic status in August 1999 and, in February 2001, was hired by the Van Wert Fire Department. In August 2001, he completed training for his paramedic certification, and, in October of that year, earned the Firefighter 2 designation. Ankney obtained his fire safety inspector certification in November 2002.