Board of Commissioners
The Greater Naples Fire Rescue District currently has a Board of 5 Fire Commissioners.
As elected officials, the Commissioners serve as the representatives of the citizens who live in the District. The Commissioners are responsible for making certain the District is meeting the needs of those they serve. While the Fire Chief is the Chief Administrative Officer of the District and makes the day to day operational decisions, it is the Board’s responsibility to oversee the larger District considerations. Among these responsibilities are ensuring that District staff complies with applicable State and Federal mandates, preserving the District’s property and assets, stewarding the District’s finances and affairs, adopting an annual budget and monitoring progress towards reaching established goals.
The Board meets monthly on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. Meetings are held at:
S/B Fire and Life Safety Office
2700 Horseshoe Dr. N
Naples, FL 34104 (map)
Mark Cherney
Chair
Mark Cherney
Commissioner Cherney is a third-generation Floridian, born in Arcadia, FL and raised in Naples, FL. He has been married to the love of his life, Kim (a seventh-generation Floridian) for 34 years and they have two children and one grandchild together that reside in Naples.
Commissioner Cherney attended Naples High School and was in the first graduating class of Barron Collier High School. Following his love and family history in aviation, he attended and graduated in 1984 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Science. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Administration, majoring in Public Administration from Central Michigan University.
Following a short stint as a Charter Pilot and Flight Instructor, Commissioner Cherney began his career with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) in 1986 as a prisoner transport pilot. By 1989 he had been promoted to Chief Pilot and embarked on a journey to create one of the most proactive and safest public service Law Enforcement Aviation Bureaus in the State of Florida. Throughout his career, he excelled at being the first to introduce new and cutting-edge technology to Collier County while doing so efficiently and economically.
During Commissioner Cherney’s 30-years at CCSO, the Aviation Bureau operated accident free while providing thousands of hours of airborne support to the citizens of Collier County and our neighboring communities through mutual aid agreements.
Commissioner Cherney has served in a director position for Airborne Law Enforcement Association, chaired the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Benefits Committee, and was charged with the design, development, and oversight of construction of the CCSO Special Operation Building. That facility was completed in 2008 and was recognized as one of the first CAT 5 rated first responder buildings erected in Collier County meant to remain operational throughout a hurricane.
Throughout his career, he authored policies and standard operating procedures, many of which were adopted on a state level for all Florida Law Enforcement agencies operating aircraft. Commissioner Cherney has received numerous awards and recognitions over the years and retired from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at the rank of Captain in May of 2016 following 30-years of service. He remains with the Agency to this day in a Reserve Auxiliary Deputy capacity.
Following his law enforcement retirement, he accepted a position flying the Bombardier CRJ-200 jet for a regional airline for a short period. Commissioner Cherney left the airline to focus his full attention on operating his aircraft management business based here in Naples where he continues to manage and fly a variety of aircraft for his clients.
In addition to holding an Airline Transport Airmen Rating in both single and multi-engine aircraft, Commissioner Cherney is a Commercially rated helicopter pilot and holds active Flight Instructor ratings for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. He is an Eagle Scout and volunteered as an adult scouter throughout his son’s scouting career. He also has volunteered as a Little League baseball coach, an American Red Cross CPR Instructor, and worked with Naples Youth Soccer.
You may contact Commissioner Cherney at [email protected]
Al Duffy
Vice-Chair
Al Duffy
Chairman Duffy started his career in the fire service as a volunteer firefighter with the Hagerman Fire Department which is located in Long Island New York in 1981 and was a member until his move to Naples in September 1985. After moving to Naples, he immediately became a volunteer firefighter with both the East Naples and Marco Island Fire Departments. He volunteered with them until his appointment as a firefighter with the City of Naples Fire Department in June 1986. He was employed with the City of Naples until July 1989, when he was appointed to the North Naples Fire Department. He worked for the North Naples Fire Department, which became North Collier Fire Rescue in 2015 until his retirement in June 2019, completing 30 years of service and retiring as a Battalion Chief. He has an AS Degree in Fire Science Technology, certifications as a Florida State Emergency Medical Technician, Pump Operator, Fire Officer II, Fire Inspector II, and Fire Instructor II.
The fire service has been a very strong passion in his life and he is fortunate to have the career that he had, serving the people of Collier County throughout the years. Chairman Duffy is also fortunate to serve on the Board of Fire Commissioners for Greater Naples Fire Rescue, where he hopes that both his experience and knowledge of the fire service will assure that the residents of our District, along with the service areas we currently contract with will receive the best service we can provide, by having the best trained, equipped personnel and department.
You may contact Commissioner Duffy at [email protected]
Patrick Dearborn
Secretary
Patrick Dearborn
Bio coming soon!
You may contact Commissioner Dearborn at [email protected]
Brian O. Cross
Treasurer
