Moreno Valley’s City Council, City staff, and Fire Chief Abdul Ahmad recognized Fire Captain David Rodriguez as Firefighter of the Year for the City of Moreno Valley at the March 11 City Council Meeting.

The Chief Officers of the Moreno Valley Fire Department evaluated all 68 Moreno Valley firefighters in determining whom to recognize with the Firefighter of the Year award. Captain Rodriguez was chosen due to his exceptional command and control on emergency incidents as well as his involvement in numerous special assignments. Captain Rodriguez is recognized as a leader amongst his peers and shows his dedication to this Fire Department on a daily basis. His participation as the coordinator for the Moreno Valley Reserve Firefighter program as well as his teaching skills during the Advanced Firefighter Cadre courses are just two of the many special assignments he has undertaken and exceled at over the last year.

Fire Captain Rodriguez began his career in 1998 at Riverside County Fire Station 13 in Home Gardens, where he worked for two years as a Volunteer Firefighter. During this time, he attended classes at Santa Ana College, where he completed the California State Fire Academy.

In 2000, Captain Rodriguez was hired as a seasonal Firefighter, and over the course of the next two years worked as a Firefighter I at Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base, Riverside County Fire Station 54 in Homeland, and Riverside County Fire Station 11 in Lake Elsinore. In 2002, Captain Rodriguez was promoted to a permanent Firefighter II at CAL FIRE / Riverside County Fire Department's Headquarters Station in the City of Perris, Station 1. Captain Rodriguez was assigned in the City of Perris for the next seven years, during which time he promoted to Fire Apparatus Engineer in 2005.

In October of 2009, David Rodriguez was promoted to the position of Fire Captain in City of Moreno Valley. Captain Rodriguez worked as a relief Captain in the City until May 2010, when he was assigned to TownGate Fire Station 6.

Captain Rodriguez has a passion for training new firefighters and teaches on CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department’s Advanced Firefighter Cadre. He is a coordinator for the Reserve Firefighter program within the Moreno Valley Division. He is also the coordinator for Moreno Valley Fire Department’s annual Muscular Dystrophy Association "Fill the Boot" event. Additionally, Captain Rodriguez assists in training new Fire Captains assigned to the Moreno Valley Battalion who have never worked in the Riverside Unit.