On Thursday, July 30, 2026, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) celebrated the graduation of Recruit Academy 180 at East Los Angeles College’s Rosco C. Ingalls Auditorium. The Executive Team joined an audience of family, friends, and colleagues as 49 new probationary firefighters received their badges and took a solemn oath to serve on behalf of the residents of Los Angeles County.
“We are guided by our core values as we protect the heart of our communities with an indelible spirit and the courage to meet every challenge,” said Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone. “From this day forward, you are embarking on a rewarding career, so start each shift with self-motivation, dedication, and passion. Embrace each challenge with determination and never lose sight of the values that brought you here this morning.”
This distinguished class included one military veteran, with Joshua Bedwell honored as the Valedictorian.
Valedictorian Bedwell said, “We were pushed past our comfort levels, pushed past the limits we thought we had, and challenged in ways that we didn’t anticipate.” He continued, “We stand here today having risen to those challenges as a team, strong, united, and ready for what comes next.”
The LACoFD is proud to honor these 49 graduates of Recruit Academy 180 and wishes them a long and safe career!
· Fire Fighter Alejandro Aguilar
· Fire Fighter Jesus Alcaraz Avalos
· Fire Fighter Matthew Arroyo
· Fire Fighter Gabriel Aviles
· Fire Fighter Cory Bancroft
· Fire Fighter Nathaniel Becerra
· Fire Fighter Joshua Bedwell
· Fire Fighter Hunter Bell
· Fire Fighter Irvin Beltran
· Fire Fighter Alejandro Beltran Reyes
· Fire Fighter Steven Bergman
· Fire Fighter Daniel Cruz
· Fire Fighter Gilberto Cruz Sanchez
· Fire Fighter Christopher Devito
· Fire Fighter Andrew Diaz
· Fire Fighter Matthew Fischer
· Fire Fighter Dylan Flores
· Fire Fighter Aaron Galvan
· Fire Fighter Juan Manuel Garnica
· Fire Fighter Jean-Paul Goudeau
· Fire Fighter Matthew Knowles
· Fire Fighter Nicholas Kuche
· Fire Fighter James Lammon
· Fire Fighter Troy Le
· Fire Fighter Ian Light
· Fire Fighter Garrett Manoukian
· Fire Fighter Lorenzo Marquez
· Fire Fighter Kyle Mashy
· Fire Fighter Joseph Masterson
· Fire Fighter Eldon McCarthy
· Fire Fighter Maxwell McCourt
· Fire Fighter Bryan McKeon
· Fire Fighter Joseph Metzo
· Fire Fighter Stephen Oakley
· Fire Fighter Joseph O’Neil
· Fire Fighter Leonardo Perez
· Fire Fighter Quinn Picard
· Fire Fighter Alexander Rivera
· Fire Fighter Kyle Robarge
· Fire Fighter Gustavo Robles
· Fire Fighter Anthony Rodriguez
· Fire Fighter Jonathan Rodriguez
· Fire Fighter Dominic Rosales
· Fire Fighter Randal Schmier
· Fire Fighter Matthew Sheehan
· Fire Fighter Cameron Timboe
· Fire Fighter Sarah Warden
· Fire Fighter Colin Wrightson
· Fire Fighter Daniel Zanolini
