State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci (left) congratulates John A. Nelson on his promotion to Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal. (Submitted photo)PIKESVILLE, Md. (January 18, 2018)—On Wednesday, Senior Deputy Fire Marshal John A. Nelson was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal.
Nelson started his career with the Office of the State Fire Marshal in 2004. Nelson has been assigned to the Southern Regional Office since being hired. In 2008 he was accepted into the Agencies K9 Unit and successfully completed the ATF Accelerant Detection Canine Program with his partner, the late K9 Charlie. After K9 Charlie's retirement in 2016, Nelson had the opportunity to continue his handling with another ATF canine, K9 Zorro. In 2010, Nelson was honored as the Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year, now the James C. Robertson, Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year Award.
Deputy Chief Nelson will now command the Southern Regional Office.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is an agency of the Department of State Police dedicated to helping protect citizens from fire and explosion through a comprehensive program of education, inspection, investigation and fire protection engineering.