CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA –At the Charlottesville Fire Department’s annual Awards and Recognition ceremony Chief Charles Werner presented Captain Emily Pelliccia with the 2008 Charlottesville Fire Department “Award of Excellence”.  This award is presented annually to the Charlottesville Fire Department member whose work on an initiative, project, or task for the department has served to elevate or move the department and its members forward in a significant way.  Captain Pelliccia received her award for her work in securing funding for, developing, and implementing a new Wellness/Fitness Program for the Department.    

Resulting from an application that was submitted by Captain Pelliccia, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded a $144,649 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to the Charlottesville Fire Department in September 2007.  Captain Pelliccia has used this funding over the last year to create a comprehensive wellness and fitness program for the Department that is specific to the needs of firefighters.  The program provides for pre-employment physical exams, annual health screenings, job-related immunizations, annual fitness assessments, wellness education and counseling, and a formal exercise program.  

Chief Werner named Captain Pelliccia the Department’s Health and Fitness Director responsible for coordinating all the Department’s wellness activities.  Chief Werner noted that “firefighting demands that fire fighters are medically and physically fit to endure the rigors and multiple stress factors of the profession.  A successful wellness/fitness program will increase our firefighters’ ability to work safely and efficiently and increase their capacity to endure and deal with the adverse conditions under which they must typically work.  Raising the overall physical fitness and wellness of the department’s personnel should reduce costs to the city by reducing the rate of firefighter injury, disability, and premature death” said Werner. 

Captain Pelliccia is a 14 year veteran of the Charlottesville Fire Department who attained the rank of Captain in March 2006.  She is currently one of five female firefighters currently employed by the department.   Described by her friends and colleagues as athletic, energetic, tireless, strong, competitive and confident, Captain Pelliccia’s active and healthy lifestyle makes her well suited to lead the Department’s efforts toward better wellness and fitness.  In addition to her job at the Fire Department,  Captain Pelliccia serves as a Tactical Medic on the City Police Department’s SWAT Team and enjoys active participation in the sports of rugby, soccer, ice hockey, rock climbing, and mountain biking.