2 given promotions at Lincoln Fire & Rescue

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By LORI PILGER / Lincoln Journal Star

The City of Lincoln has two new deputy fire chiefs.

Leo Benes began his career as a paid firefighter in 1986. Before that, he was a volunteer.

Jeanne Pashalek became a firefighter in 1990 and is the city’s first female chief deputy.

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Jeanne Pashalek and Leo Benes. (Courtesy Photo)

Jeanne Pashalek and Leo Benes. (Courtesy Photo)

As of Nov. 27, both took over responsibilities as deputy chief of Battalion 2, overseeing different shifts in the east half of the city.

The positions opened up due to the recent retirements of Arnie Hart  and Larry Edwards.

If called out to building fires, rescue alarms or hazardous materials calls, Benes and Pashalek will be incident commanders.

Benes, a graduate of Norris High School, said he started his career as a volunteer firefighter “and found the satisfaction that you get from helping your neighbors and people in need.”

 When a couple of friends started talking about becoming firefighters and he thought about the chances for advancement and growth, he decided to apply. He said he was turned down the first time, but tried again. He was hired in March 1986.

Benes said he remembers going to his first fire, near 54th and Glade streets, on the back of Truck 7 as a probationary firefighter. They rescued the family’s dog in the basement.

Promotions — firefighter to paramedic to captain and battalion chief — came over the next 21 years. 

“It’s been a great career,” he said. “Every day is a whole list of opportunities. You just never know what’s going to be around the next corner.”

Benes said firefighters see a lot of the bad side of humanity, but they take solace in knowing they’re making a difference in people’s lives — like a girl who was coding at the University of Nebraska when they got there. Her co-workers did CPR until firefighters got there and were able to revive her.

Pashalek agreed.

“It’s a great opportunity to have a lot of impact,” she said.

Pashalek said her career choice came about purely by coincidence, but she always wanted to make a difference.

She was working in physical therapy when she met some firefighters  — and suddenly, she was considering a career change.

Pashalek, who graduated from Doane College with a natural science degree in 1985, joined the department and went from firefighter to paramedic, captain to deputy chief.

When she was promoted the first time, firefighting still was “very, very predominantly” a male career, she said. But slowly, Pashalek said, Lincoln Fire & Rescue has hired more women and minorities.

She said she’s gotten a lot of support and advice about her new position from other deputy chiefs and her crew of firefighters.

It will be different having 88 firefighters to manage, said Pashalek, who is working on a master’s degree in management at Doane College.

“Overall, it has been an absolutely fantastic career.”

Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.