HICKORY, NC (April 5, 2017)…A promotional ceremony for Hickory firefighters was held on March 29.
Mike Cates
Mike Cates has been promoted to Battalion Chief with the Hickory Fire Department. He began his career with the Hickory Fire Department on September 23, 1991. Prior to employment with the City of Hickory, Cates attended Western Carolina University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1990. He is certified as a level I and II firefighter through the North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission and as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) through the North Carolina Office of Emergency Services. Cates has completed training in many areas including fire apparatus, hazardous materials certification operations level, and technical rescue. He has been certified as a level II Fire Service Instructor since 1998 and is very active teaching fire certification and specialty classes throughout the region. He has completed the North Carolina Fire Officer level II certification. Cates has also served as a volunteer member of the Long View Fire Department since 1993, and currently serves as a Captain. He is married to Jennifer and they have three children: Drew, Collin, and Jenna.
David Cozart
David Cozart has been transferred into the position of Support Services Battalion Chief with the City of Hickory Fire Department. His interest in firefighting started as a volunteer with the Grace Chapel Fire Department in 1988. On December 11, 1989, David was hired by the Hickory Fire Department. David currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Ellendale Volunteer Fire Department in the community in which he lives.
Among numerous training classes, David has taken the Basic Arson course through the National Fire Academy, completed the “Response to Hazardous Materials Incidents” course through the Environmental Protection Agency, and is certified in many areas including Fire Service Instructor, EMT, and Rescue Technician. Cozart has graduated from Coastal Carolina Community College with an Associate Degree in Applied Science in the area of Fire Protection Technology. David is married to Lisa and they have two daughters, Taylor and Mykenzie.
Andy Webster
Andy Webster has been promoted to Fire Captain with the City of Hickory Fire Department. Webster joined the fire department on August 21, 1989, when he was hired as a firefighter. He began his career as a volunteer firefighter in 1984 with Cool Springs Fire Department, where he has served as Fire Chief since 2014. Webster is certified as a firefighter level II through the NC Fire & Rescue Commission. In 2000 he obtained his Emergency Medical Technician certification. Through the North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission, he completed the Hazardous Materials Operation level training; and he is a NC Qualified Instructor Level II and a NC Fire Officer Level 2. He has served as President of the Iredell County Firefighter’s Association and on the Public Safety and Justice Task Force for Iredell County. Webster currently serves as President of the Western North Carolina Association of Firefighters of which the City of Hickory Fire Department is a member.
As a lifelong resident of Statesville, he graduated from North Iredell High School in 1986. Andy and his son Dallas, age 24 are the biggest Dallas Cowboys fans ever. He lives with his girlfriend Jennifer and her children Sam, age 18; and Hailey, age 22.
