Captain Rodgers Recognized for an Enduring Legacy at Charlotte Fire
Published on October 10, 2025
Capt. Rodgers pictured with members of Rescue 10, whose trust and teamwork he credits as the heart of the company’s success.
Charlotte Fire has named Capt. Jerry Rodgers Jr. its 2025 Officer of the Year, recognizing nearly four decades of service built on steady leadership, deep knowledge, and a quiet determination to make the department stronger every day.
Capt. Rodgers, who commands Rescue 10 on C Shift, joined Charlotte Fire in November 1986. From the first day he stepped into a firehouse, he felt the pull of a profession that offered challenge, teamwork, and purpose.
In a black-and-white portrait at Firehouse 10, Capt. Rodgers reflects the steady focus and professionalism that have defined his career
“Every single day is a new adventure,” Capt. Rodgers said. “It’s a new call, a new challenge. I enjoy the people, the calls, the pace. It’s exciting work, never a mundane nine to five. I have always been proud to be a Charlotte firefighter.”
When he began, Charlotte was a much smaller city. The department operated fewer stations and call volume was a fraction of what crews see today. Capt. Rodgers remembers that growth vividly. “We have almost doubled in size since I came on in 1986,” he said. “There are more battalions, more stations, more chief officers. The city has changed and the department has had to grow with it.”
He adapted as the organization evolved, moving from Operations to the Training Academy and later into Special Operations. Mentors helped along the way, and Capt. Rodgers never forgot their investment in him. “I’ve had incredible chief officers, captains, and firefighters who always pushed me to be better,” he said. “You watch the people who are good at this job, and you want to live up to what they built.”
Capt. Rodgers takes a moment in Rescue 10, reflecting on nearly four decades of service and a commitment to make sure everyone goes home safe.
That drive helped Capt. Rodgers shape programs that protect Charlotte and communities across North Carolina. He was part of the small group that began planning an Urban Search and Rescue capability in the late 1990s. After the attacks of September 11, new funding allowed Charlotte Fire to accelerate those efforts.
“We spent 56 straight days getting the program off the ground,” Capt. Rodgers said. “We were building something we knew was needed, and we wanted it to be solid. Since then, USAR has grown into a premier program people look to across the country.”
He also helped build the department’s flood water rescue capability and worked with state partners to create the North Carolina flood water boat program. Later, he contributed to the development of the Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, or HART, which places rescuers in dangerous situations during hurricanes and flash floods.
Capt. Jerry Rodgers, Charlotte Fire’s 2025 Officer of the Year, works with a teammate as they prepare gear for deployment following Hurricane Helene
“Those programs matter because they give citizens a chance on their worst day,” Capt. Rodgers said. “I have always wanted to give people the tools and the confidence to handle those calls.”
For nearly thirty years Capt. Rodgers has led Rescue 10, one of Charlotte Fire’s busiest and most specialized companies. The unit handles heavy vehicle extrications, trench collapses, high angle rope work, machinery entrapments, and confined space incidents. Capt. Rodgers said the job is demanding but deeply rewarding.
“I have been fortunate to have exceptional crews, people who want the ball every time,” he said. “We talk through mistakes, train, and learn together. They make my job easier because of the professionalism and drive they bring.”
Capt. Jerry Rodgers stands with the Rescue 10 crew at Firehouse 10, a company he has led through some of Charlotte Fire’s most challenging calls.
He believes strong companies are built on trust and respect. “You have to give people space to work,” Capt. Rodgers said. “Let them push themselves and be willing to learn from what they bring back. Leadership is about guiding without taking away initiative.”
Engineer Dennis White, who has worked alongside Capt. Rodgers for more than 25 years, said that consistency builds a level of trust that defines Rescue 10. “Capt. Rodgers is extremely knowledgeable and capable, but what sets him apart is he never slacks up,” White said. “Even if it is a drill he has done a hundred times, he gives it full effort. You have to stay sharp to keep up with him.”
That shared focus has created an unspoken bond. “We don’t always have to talk about what we are going to do because we just know,” White said. “He calls the play, I know how he works, and he knows how I work. That trust carries over to everything we do.”
Battalion Chief Jeremy Monteith said that approach explains why Rescue 10 has produced so many of the department’s top technical rescuers. “The firefighters who come through Rescue 10 under Capt. Rodgers’ command develop into some of the best in the business,” Monteith said. “He creates an environment where excellence is expected, but people know they are supported.”
Capt. Rodgers and Engineer White stand near the Rescue 10 rig, a reminder of the technical rescues and high-risk calls where his calm leadership has made a difference.
Capt. Rodgers’ influence extends beyond the fireground. As a Training Officer, he helped shape classes of recruits who later became officers and chiefs. He said the Academy was one of the most meaningful chapters of his career.
“Having a recruit class was the highlight of my time at the Academy,” Capt. Rodgers said. “Molding young people into solid firefighters meant a lot. You want them to respect others, keep training, learn something every day, and remember why they wanted to be here in the first place.”
He often reminded trainees to listen to experienced members and to take pride in every task, no matter how small. “Find out who your senior guy is, build trust with them, and mentor yourself after people who make a positive impact,” Capt. Rodgers said. “Always remember how it felt when you got that letter saying you had been accepted. That excitement should carry through your whole career.”
He also tells firefighters to keep the bigger picture in mind. “And just continue to strive to make the organization better than when you got here,” Capt. Rodgers said. “Do everything in your power that everybody goes home the next morning.”
Over the years Capt. Rodgers has responded to countless emergencies, from house fires and vehicle accidents to large scale rescues. He is reluctant to pick a single defining event. “We have been on tough calls, situations where afterward we said, how did we get through that,” he said. “It is faith in your crew, trust, respect, everyone giving their best effort to make things better.”
Capt. Rodgers in front of Rescue 10’s apparatus at Firehouse 10, a station that has been home to many of his proudest moments with Charlotte Fire.
Colleagues describe him as calm even during the most chaotic moments. Younger firefighters often seek him out for advice about complicated training problems or knotty rescue scenarios. Supervisors rely on him for candid feedback about equipment and tactics. Capt. Rodgers said he has always tried to create an atmosphere where everyone feels they can contribute. “Sometimes the best ideas come from the newest person in the room,” he said. “You have to listen. We are always learning.”
Monteith said that composure has made Capt. Rodgers indispensable during Charlotte Fire’s most complex operations. “Capt. Rodgers commands respect because he is prepared and steady,” Monteith said. “Whether it is a technical rescue or a large scale disaster, people know he is going to keep the mission clear and the team safe.”
Capt. Rodgers shares a moment with Battalion Chief Jeremy Monteith during a Task Force 3 training session. Monteith calls him the model of what a Charlotte firefighter should be.
Fire Chief Reginald Johnson said Capt. Rodgers’ selection as Officer of the Year reflects how one person’s consistency can shape an entire department. “Capt. Rodgers is the kind of officer every department hopes to have,” Johnson said. “He has built programs, guided careers, and served citizens with skill and compassion. His influence reaches far beyond his own company and is embedded in the way Charlotte Fire responds and trains today.”
Johnson said Capt. Rodgers also embodies humility. “Capt. Rodgers leads by example,” he said. “He treats people with respect, expects excellence, and never loses sight of why we do this work, to protect lives and support our community.”
For Charlotte Fire, Capt. Rodgers’ story is one of quiet strength and enduring commitment. The Officer of the Year award is not just a tribute to past accomplishments but a celebration of the standard he continues to set for the department. “He designed the mold for what a Charlotte firefighter should be,” Monteith said. “We are all better because Capt. Rodgers chose to serve.”
A close-up of Capt. Rodgers in turnout gear at Rescue 10, where he has spent decades leading one of Charlotte Fire’s most specialized companies.
Capt. Rodgers summed up the focus that has guided him since his first day on the job. “And just continue to strive to make the organization better than when you got here,” he said. “Do everything in your power that everybody goes home the next morning.”
“This job is about trust, respect, and doing your very best for the people next to you and for the citizens who depend on us,” Capt. Rodgers said. “That is what keeps me coming back every day.”