2024

2024 Leadership Award
Lt. Stephen Wiewel

This year’s recipient of the Leadership Award has always had a larger than life presence at the Quincy Fire Department. President Teddy Roosevelt was quoted to say; Speak softly and carry a big stick and you will go far. Well, this person got half of it right because he definitely can carry a big stick, but we have never known him to speak softly or withhold an idea. What we do know is that this person is a leader because we know leaders as the ones who create the paths and ideas that others want to follow. And this person has plenty of that going for him. He is passionate about the fire service and will share that passion with anyone standing near him.

This year’s recipient has the leadership qualities of a positive attitude, never stops learning and provides constructive feedback to everyone that he teaches. He started the fire service wanting to learn everything that he could; he obtained his Fire Officer II certification, Paramedic license, all 4 Technician level certifications for technical rescue, vehicle machinery rescue technician and Haz-Mat technician. In addition, he has been an Academy and State-wide Cornerstone Instructor for the Illinois Fire Service Institute specializing in Firefighter Survival and Rapid Intervention Operations.

With all this going on, the main reason we chose this person for the leadership award is that he has stepped up and taken ownership in becoming our MABAS Division 44 Technical Rescue Team Leader and is a lead instructor for the QFD/WIU Fire Practicum held at the Quincy Regional Training Facility. And last, but not least, this person just obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Protective Services from Western Illinois University last semester. What an amazing set of accomplishments.

It is with pride and honor that we feel privileged to recognize Lt. Stephen Wiewel as the recipient of the 2024 Quincy Fire Department Leadership Award.