Marie Villani describes the moment she knew she wanted to become an FDNY EMS officer.

"I was 13 years old and my father went into cardiac arrest and thank God he is alive. I was upset and didn't know what was going on so I wanted to give back," said Villani FDNY Division Chief.

On Wednesday, she was one of 31 officers promoted at the Fire Academy Field House on Randall's Island. She's been in the department for 25 years. Her next assignment will be opening the new EMS Division 6 in Northern Manhattan.

"That's a great achievement to be picked for. It's starting it from the ground up," Villani said.

All of the promoted officers were commended for their work throughout the pandemic.

"In 2020, the FDNY responded to more than 1.4 million medical calls. More than half of those calls were life threatening emergencies," FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said.

Newly promoted Lorena Concepcion Martinez remembers first-hand, she was working during the height of the coronavirus outbreak.

"It was a very stressful time a lot of jobs for the EMT and paramedics I was insuring they had everything they needed," Martinez said.

Her family came to support her during the ceremony.  

Martinez also knew from a young age being in the department was her calling.

"It's been 20 years I always knew I wanted to help people since I was in High School," Martinez said.

Gregg Brady can't wait to start his new promotion.
 
"It's a major accomplishment I'm becoming part of that 1% of the Deputy Chiefs of the New York City Fire Department the greatest department in the world," Deputy Chief, Gregg Brady said.

He has tremendous pride working alongside his fellow promoted officers.

"The individuals you work with day in and day out that alone," Brady said. "There isn't a day I don't wake up that I'm not looking forward to going to work."