ROCKLAND – Thirty years at Rockland Fire and EMS. Four months shy of forty years in the fire service.

City officials, former co-workers, family, and firefighters from surrounding towns joined Rockland Fire and EMS, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, to celebrate Adam Miceli’s retirement, just a few days over 30 years to the day when he first walked into the Park Street station as an employee. Miceli clocked out of his last shift at 7 a.m., Jan. 29, 2025.

The ceremony allowed attendees to reflect upon the passion and commitment he brought to the job, and for Miceli to show appreciation and a bit of advice that he'd learned along the way. 

Prior to fulltime employment as a firefighter, he worked in construction.

“Before I did this, I pounded nails, and I also pounded my alarm clock every morning,” said Miceli. “Since that day that I started here, I can probably count on one hand the number of days that I woke up and didn’t jump out of bed wanting to come to work.”

During his time as interim fire chief, Miceli worked 56 hours per week, and still came in on his days off. But that was Miceli, according to retired Fire Chief Charlie Jordan. Even prior to those two years, Miceli would return for his shifts, or on his days off, brimming with fresh ideas that clearly came from off-duty study of the fire service.

“He is definitely the epitome of passion for the service,” said former firefighter Rick Johnson.

And the area is safer for it, said current Fire Chief Chris Whytock.

Miceli’s been on every truck committee for RFD, even traveling out of state to view potential apparatus, and has acted as Rockland’s fire inspector. Along the way, he built a reputation for his knowledge of Life Safety codes, to the point where people continued to call him directly with their questions even after he’d passed the Chief torch.

When Whytock succeeded Miceli in the position 9.5 years ago, major building issues existed in the city: fire alarm systems and sprinkler systems in particular. Whytock needed to submit a plan to the Fire Marshal’s Office. Miceli provided his plan to Whytock to pass along.

“I sent it to the Fire Marshal’s Office,” said Whytock. “And the first thing they asked me was, what does Assistant Chief Miceli think about it? Well, I said, it’s his plan. So they said, then go for it.”

Miceli, in turn, credited Whytock for the seemingly impossible ideas that Whytock was able to bring to fruition, the positive changes to the department, and the strong leadership before, through, and following the pandemic.

“I feel like the last 9.5 years flew right by,” said Miceli. “I have a bit more spring in my step coming to work."

Despite having some incredible mentors and leaders and instructors, Miceli says he’s learned from every single person regardless of rank. His advice to others: don’t ignore your shiftmates or mutual aid firefighters.

“With an open mind, we will subconsciously learn more from them, whether it’s a ‘that’s how it’s done moment’ or ‘I’ll never do that,” he said.

Yet, none of it would have been possible without his strong, supportive, independent wife. She’s endured interrupted holidays, birthdays, special events, dinners, day-to-day plans. By herself, she's dealt with power outages, raging blizzards, and at least one wildland creature on the kitchen counter.

“I’m in awe of her continuous strength and commitment and support,” he said. “Much of my success has been bought and paid for with her time.”

Rockland Fire and EMS gave Miceli a firefighter’s plaque that read "A leader’s legacy is only as strong as the foundation they leave behind. That allows others to advance the organization in their name."

Miceli said what he'll miss most is the nights around the FD dinner table. 

"The dinner table heals us," Miceli told Whytock before the retirement ceremony. "It brings us together. And it's where the probies hear stories about the men and women who come before us." 

"And Adam's name will definitely be spoken of around the dinner table for years to come," said Whytock.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com