Command Staff Biographies

Fire Chief Scott A. Titus began his fire service career in 1990 as firefighter #463 with the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department. He went to fire school in 1991, following with EMT and paramedic school back-to-back and graduated as Florida Paramedic #13046 in 1993, at which time he was a lieutenant at Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department (Officer #406).

In 1993, Chief Titus joined North Port Fire Rescue as a firefighter/paramedic (ID #63), marking the start of his full-time professional career. He continued volunteering with Nokomis for several years and later returned as an instructor at the Nokomis Fire Academy, where he developed and introduced a first-of-its-kind 40-hour firefighter survival course for minimum standards candidates. He also taught for several years at the Sarasota County Technical Institute (SCTI at the time) as a minimum standards instructor, mostly teaching fire behavior, live fire evolutions and any practical evolution days.

Over the course of his service, Chief Titus held each of the numerous operational and leadership roles that existed at the time, including apprentice firefighter/paramedic, journeyman, firefighter/paramedic, lieutenant, training captain, shift captain, battalion captain, deputy chief of operations, deputy fire chief of administration & operations and ultimately after a national search, he earned the position of fire chief in early 2018.

Chief Titus holds a Bachelor of Arts in management with a concentration in public safety and a minor in human development from Eckerd College. He was recognized by his peers as Firefighter of the Year in 1998 and was awarded the City Leadership Award in 2010. His professional certifications include State-Certified Firefighter and Paramedic, Instructor III, Live Fire Instructor, State of Florida Fire Officer II, and State-Certified Arson Investigator. He also obtained operational and technical certifications with the state and was a founding member of the Technical Rescue Team (#645). Chief Titus graduated from the Emergency Services Leadership Institute in 2012 and recently traveled to Tallahassee to teach one of the core classes for that curriculum: Personal Qualities, Leadership,and the Organization.

Chief Titus has membership affiliations with the International Association of Fire chiefs (IAFC), the Florida Fire Chiefs Association; where he is an active member of their Legislative Committee, and he obtained Certified District Manager (CDM) through the Florida Association of Special Districts.

Deputy Chief of Operations Scott A. Lane began his firefighting career in 1979 with the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department and transitioned to a full-time fire chief at Nokomis in 1987 and served in that role for 17 years. In 2004, he became the training captain for the Englewood Area Fire Control District. He was then promoted to assistant chief of operations in 2007 and served in that role until 2013 when he was promoted to fire chief, where he served for six years. He was hired by North Port Fire Rescue in 2019 as the deputy chief of operations.

Scott holds a bachelor's degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University and an associate's degree in fire science from the State College of Florida. His certifications include Certified Fire Protection Specialist, Chief Fire Office Certification, State Certified Fire Instructor II, State Certified Fire Inspector, State Certified Arson Investigator, State Certified Fire Officer II, NFA Leadership I, II, & III, State Certified EMT, FFCA ELSI graduate and numerous leadership certifications.

Deputy Chief of Administration Nicholas Herlihy began his fire service career in 2001 in Manatee County. In 2019 he joined NPFR, bringing with him extensive experience and a commitment to advancing fire service.

Since joining NPFR, he has served in several key leadership roles. He was appointed captain of fire and special operations training in 2019, followed by his promotion to division chief of administration from 2020-2022. In 2022, he advanced to the role of deputy fire chief, where he currently oversees the Administrative Services Division; Logistics, Business Manager, Systems Support, Trades Worker and Accreditation.

Deputy Chief Herlihy holds a bachelor’s degree in public safety administration and is actively pursuing a master’s degree in public administration, with anticipated completion in 2027. His professional certifications include Fire Officer I–IV, Florida Urban Search and Rescue (FLUSAR) Specialist, Fire Inspector II, Safety Officer, Fire Instructor II and Certified District Manager. He is also a graduate of the Florida Fire Chief’s Association Emergency Services Leadership Institute and holds a Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management.

He remains actively involved in professional organizations and statewide committees. He is a member of the Florida Fire Chief’s Association and previously served on the Division of the State Fire Marshal’s Firefighters Employment, Standards, and Training Council, contributing to statewide policy and standards development for the fire service.

Division Chief Dave Hawes began his fire service career with NPFR in 2006. Over his tenure, he has served in several operational and leadership roles, including firefighter/EMT, firefighter/Paramedic, lieutenant and district chief, before assuming his current role as division chief of logistics.

Throughout his career, Chief Hawes has been deeply involved in departmental training, development and volunteer initiatives. He is a Certified Peer Fitness Trainer for firefighters, and a Peer Support Team member with a focus on mental wellness. He also serves as a Live Fire Training Instructor and the department’s ICS and Incident Action Plan (IAP) Coordinator for major City of North Port events.

Chief Hawes holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in public safety administration from Florida South Western State College and a Master of Arts in organizational leadership from Waldorf University. He is credentialed by the Center for Public Safety Excellence with the Fire Officer Designation. His professional certifications include Instructor III, Fire Officer II, Live Fire Training Instructor I and Incident Safety Officer.

Battalion Chief Famke Wolbers began her fire service career in 2003 with the City of Winter Springs, serving as a firefighter/paramedic. She joined NPFR in 2005, where she has built a distinguished career in emergency medical services, training and specialized operations.

Throughout her tenure at NPFR, Chief Wolbers has served in multiple operational and leadership roles, including firefighter/paramedic, EMS field training officer, Technical Rescue Team (TRT) member, EMS quality assurance coordinator, pre‑plan coordinator, lieutenant and battalion chief of EMS training. Her broad experience reflects her commitment to excellence in patient care, operational readiness and professional development.

Chief Wolbers holds a bachelor’s degree in public safety and emergency management. She maintains an extensive range of professional certifications, including Fire Standards, Paramedic, BLS Instructor, ACLS Instructor, PHTLS Instructor, PALS Instructor, Fire Officer II, Fire Instructor, Live Fire Instructor and is a graduate of the Emergency Services Leadership Institute (ESLI).

In her role as battalion chief of EMS, she oversees EMS training, clinical performance and professional development initiatives, ensuring a high standard of care and operational excellence for the community.

Fire Marshal Peter Marietti began his fire service career in 1992 with the Warwick Fire Department in Rhode Island. He rose through the ranks over a 25‑year career, ultimately serving as fire marshal for more than eight years before retiring from the department in 2017.

Peter joined NPFR in 2017 as a fire and life safety inspector and was promoted to fire marshal in 2017, where he continues to oversee fire prevention, code compliance and community risk reduction.

He maintains a broad range of professional certifications, including Florida Fire Inspector I/II, Florida Plan Examiner I, NFPA Certified Fire Inspector (CFI‑I) and NFPA Certified Fire Plan Examiner (CFPE).

Fire Marshal Marietti is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association (FFMIA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA).

Quality Assurance and Improvement (QA/QI) Officer Rick Wilbert has served in fire and emergency medical services for more than 16 years. His career includes roles as firefighter/paramedic, field training officer, clinical coordinator and EMS instructor, gaining extensive experience in emergency response, EMS education, data analytics and accreditation.

Rick holds an associate’s degree in emergency medical services and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in data analytics. He also maintains specialized operational certifications, including boat operator search and rescue and personal watercraft rescue operator.

In his role as QA/QI Officer, Rick coordinates the department’s Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement Program, manages EMS and fire data reporting platforms and serves as the department’s lead data analyst. He represents NPFR on the City’s Data Steering Committee, maintains Emergency Service Zone mapping using ArcGIS Pro, and is a key contributor to the Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Cover, supporting CFAI and CAAS accreditation. He works closely with the division chief of EMS and the medical director to monitor clinical performance and advance data‑driven decision‑making across the department.

District Chief Joshua Clements began his firefighting career in 2005 with the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department. In 2008, he joined North Port Fire Rescue, where he has steadily advanced through the ranks, serving as firefighter/EMT, paramedic, journeyman, lieutenant and currently, district chief.

Throughout his career, Chief Clements has demonstrated a strong commitment to both operational excellence and organizational development. He has served in a wide range of roles, including as a member of the Labor Management Committee, City Policy Review Board, live fire instructor, Honor Guard member, new hire orientation instructor, peer training instructor and Technical Rescue Team member. He has also participated in numerous departmental committees and previously instructed Minimum Standards at Englewood Fire Academy.

Chief Clements is an active member of the Florida Fire Chiefs Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He holds a Bachelor of Science in fire and emergency services with a specialization in fire department management from the University of Florida. His professional certifications include Fire Officer IV, Instructor III, Live Fire Instructor I and Incident Safety Officer.

In recognition of his dedication and leadership, Chief Clements was honored as North Port Fire Rescue’s Firefighter of the Year in 2015 and Fire Officer of the Year in 2020.

District Chief Kyle Dawson is a second-generation firefighter and proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He began his fire service career in 2007 and has proudly served with North Port Fire Rescue since 2009. Over the course of his career, He has served in various roles within the department, including firefighter/EMT, paramedic, lieutenant and is currently serving as a district chief. Additionally, Chief Dawson has completed North Port's engineer program, operated as both a Fire and EMS FTO, and is currently the program manager for Technical Rescue Team #645.

Chief Dawson holds a Bachelor of Science in fire administration from Columbia Southern University and is completing his master’s degree at Louisiana State University in organizational leadership and human resources development. He is a certified Fire Officer IV, Instructor III, Incident Safety Officer, Rescue Specialist and Live Fire Instructor. In addition to his operational responsibilities, he teaches multiple state certificate courses in technical rescue and engine company operations and has been an instructor at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) since 2020.

A decorated member of the fire service, Chief Dawson has been recognized as Firefighter of the Year in 2018, Fire Officer of the Year in 2021 and 2025, and SAR Fire Service Provider of the Year in 2018. He is also a two-time recipient of the North Port Fire Rescue Unit Citation for Bravery.

District Chief Kyle Dent began his fire service career in 2003 as a volunteer with Sarasota County Fire Department and joined North Port Fire Rescue in 2005. During his tenure at NPFR, he has served as firefighter/EMT, journeyman, lieutenant and now district chief, building broad operational experience and leadership expertise.

Chief Dent has contributed to several key areas of departmental training and development. He is a live fire instructor, peer fitness trainer and lead instructor for the New Hire Orientation Committee. He developed and currently leads the department’s Driver/Engineer Program and serves as NPFR’s water supply officer.

Kyle is also a published author, with multiple articles focused on water supply and water delivery. He is the lead instructor for the state hydraulics and apparatus operations classes hosted by North Port Fire Rescue.

Chief Dent has been recognized for his exemplary service, earning Firefighter of the Year as well as being selected twice as Officer of the Year.

District Chief Dave Ingalls began with North Port Fire Rescue in 2000 as a firefighter/EMT, after serving nine years with Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department. Over the past 22 years, Dave has held the rank of FF/EMT, paramedic, lieutenant, battalion chief, captain and now district chief.

He is a member of the Technical Rescue Team and an educator with the Juvenile Fire Setters Education Program. Dave has also served as a board member of the North Port Firefighters Benevolent Association since its inception in 2007. He has also trained firefighter recruits as an instructor at Sarasota County Technical Institute's Fire Science Academy.

His certifications and training include an associate’s degree in Fire Science, Paramedic, Fire Officer I, Instructor II, CPR & ACLS Instructor, Youth Fire-setter Prevention & Intervention I & II, Pump Operator and Emergency Services Leadership Institute.

Dave has also been recognized by his peers as North Port Fire Rescue's 2005 Firefighter of the Year, 2009 Officer of the Year, and 2020 Staff Employee of the Year.