In September, military personnel, first responders from the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area, public officials, family and friends assembled at the National Park Service's U.S. Coast Guard facility on Staten Island to honor USCG Senior Port Security Specialist Frank Fiumano, holding many positions and ranks, for 54-years of dedicate service to his county.

In the first responder field, he was instrumental in gaining the support and funding to establish the New Jersey Regional Fireboat Task Force.

His service included entering the US Marine Corps in 1969. He served in the Mediterranean area in the early 1970's with the 25^th Marine Amphibious Brigade. In addition, Fiumano performed active duty with the US Coast Guard from 1999-2005, serving in various capacities. He retired as a commander the USCG Reserve in July, 2009.  

In his civilian capacity, prior to joining the Coast Guard, Fiumano was with the PAUL Corp., where he invented an aircraft part, for which he holds a patent.  

In a civilian position, Fiumano was employed as a Port Security Specialist at USCG Sector New York from May, 2006 to September, 2024. During his civilian time at Coast Guard Sector New York, he administered the Port Security Grant Program, overseeing and awarding of $500 million to public and private sector organizations within the Port of New York/New Jersey and Albany.

In 2016, North Hudson Captain Keith Gonyou had the idea of creating a marine task force as several fire departments were acquiring fire boats through various grants, etc.  He teamed up with Elizabeth Deputy Chief Lathy Wirkus for the project. At this time there were boats assigned to fire departments in North Hudson, Jersey City, Newark, Carteret and Linden. Using a chart of the New York and New Jersey harbor, and all of its waterways in hand, they divided the area into eight zones. In these zones, a three-boat running assignment was considered to respond to emergencies. If the incident required more vessels, additional boats would be dispatched from the next zone.  

These fire officers then met with Mr. Fiumano who served as Senior Port Security Specialist for the USCG-Sector New York. He was impressed with the idea, and the fact that the Coast Guard would no longer have to call each individual department for their boats, and if they were in fact available to respond.  

Mr. Fiumano worked on getting the cooperation and funds needed for such a project. This included the North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue becoming the dispatch center for the boats from its Union City dispatch center, and providing funds for the proper amount of dispatching equipment, personnel and training. The dispatch center also notifies the NJ State Police Marine Division and USCG with updates. In addition, communicating with the FDNY and NYPD. All involved department chiefs receive phone/text alerts when any calls are dispatched, so they are aware of the situation.  

Besides fire and rescue emergency responses, the task force also provides security patrols, boat investigations and participating in special events. The area covered includes the Hudson River from the Rockland County line, Lower New York Harbor, Upper Newark Bay, the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers and Upper Raritan Bay. There are numerous fire departments that now have boats and are part of the Task Force.    

Captain Gonyou said the Task Force has received numerous citations and praise from FEMA, the USCG, as well as many state and local agencies.

During the retirement ceremony for Mr. Fiumano, he received many honors and gifts from New York and New Jersey first responders, as well as praise and appreciation for all that he has done serving the metropolitan area and his country. He will be missed.