Trevor Nelson B.A.S. in Fire Science Management Florida Community College, Class of 2009

Up the Career Ladder

Trevor Nelson
Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) in Fire Science Management,
Class of 2009

Public service runs in Trevor Nelson’s family. His father was a firefighter for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD), retiring as a lieutenant in 2004. And Trevor himself is a veteran of seventeen years of service with JFRD, now serving as a captain.

His commitment to public service also includes a commitment to life-long learning. Like so many other FCCJ students, Trevor has continually upgraded his professional qualifications to advance in his field. Already holding three A.S. degrees in Fire Science Technology and Emergency Medical Technology, he has now completed his B.A.S. in Fire Science Management. Trevor also holds the honor of being FCCJ’s first ever bachelor’s graduate.

Thanks to his father’s example, Trevor wanted to become a firefighter all his life. And he knew where to start. “Initially, I chose FCCJ based on its convenience to various workplaces throughout the city as a firefighter,” he said. “I returned in 2007 to begin meeting the requirements for the new bachelor’s program. It is a degree that I have waited for a long time, and it’s unique because it does not require an A.A. degree to complete the bachelor’s-level classes.”

Trevor also appreciates the convenience of FCCJ’s scheduling options. “In the spring of 2008,” he said, “the program went to a hybrid, online/classroom arrangement, which was very conducive to my fire department schedule. The online classes are very beneficial for someone trying to juggle the demands of a full-time job and family, all the while my wife, Amy, was also enrolled in FCCJ’s registered nurse program.”

A resident of the Jacksonville area all his life, Trevor is committed to serving his community. “In the future, I plan to continue working at JFRD. The bachelor’s degree will do two things for me. First, it satisfies increased demands by the department for promotion to the rank of district chief. In addition, it will allow me the opportunity to seek other avenues of employment after retirement.”

Trevor currently serves as president of the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters. And he’s grateful for all the good things that have come his way. “I have been blessed by God to be given the opportunities that have been given to me in this life.”

And he’ll continue to follow the example of public service set by his father for so many years.