TWO VETERAN TRI CITIES FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN PROMOTED. ACCORDING TO BRISTOL TENNESSEE FIRE CHIEF BOB BARNES, LT. GERALD THOMPSON AND LT. DWAYNE HONAKER HAVE BEEN PROMOTED TO BATTALION CHIEF. THE BATTALION CHIEF SERVES AS THE COMMANDER OF ALL SHIFT OPERATIONS AND EMERGENCY SCENE MANAGEMENT. THOMPSON IS A 32 YEAR VETERAN OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, HAVING EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN ALL ASPECTS OF FIRE SERVICE AND HOLDS NUMEROUS CERTIFICATIONS AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. MEANWHILE, HONAKER HAS SERVED AS AN OFFICER IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SINCE 2003, AND EARNED THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT IN 2006. HE IS AN 11 YEAR VETERAN OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.