Surrounded by family, fellow firefighters, and first responders from across Hopewell Valley, two longtime members of the Hopewell Township Fire District were sworn into new leadership roles during a ceremony held Thursday evening at Union Fire Company & Rescue Squad.
Deputy Chief Joshua Wilson and Lieutenant John Schafer took their oaths of office in front of a packed room, with family members joining them for the oath and to pin on their new badges. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the October 23 meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners.
Fire Chief Jonathan D. Moore delivered remarks ahead of each oath, highlighting the officers’ credentials, service history, and professional accomplishments drawn from the district’s official ceremony materials.
The event also included acknowledgments to partner agencies, local officials, and other chiefs from local departments who attended in support.
Deputy Chief Joshua Wilson
Wilson, a 27-year veteran of the fire service, serves both as Deputy Fire Chief and as Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator for Hopewell Township. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University, a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science from New Jersey City University and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program as well as Rutgers’ Certified Public Manager Program.
Moore also noted Wilson’s extensive training and certifications in emergency management, risk mitigation, and instruction — qualifications that are expected to support leadership, interagency coordination, and long-term planning for the district.
Lieutenant John Schafer
Schafer, who has served in Hopewell Township for more than two decades, began his fire service career in 1992 as a volunteer firefighter in Lawrence Township. He joined the Hopewell Township Fire District in 2001 and spent his first 11 years overseeing township fire prevention programs before transitioning into department-level training.
Known throughout the Valley for his work in technical rescue instruction, Schafer leads training for both career staff and volunteers and serves as a team leader for the Hopewell Valley Technical Rescue Team. He currently holds certifications including Firefighter II, Fire Inspector, EMT, Hazardous Materials Technician, Swift and Ice Water Rescue, Rope Rescue, Boat Operator, Fire Instructor II, and Drill Ground Instructor.
