Four Cherry Hill firefighters moved into leadership roles on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

The firefighters' union, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 2663, announced the promotions on its website Thursday, Sept. 17. Jason Houck was promoted to assistant chief, Zach Houck to battalion chief, Justin Brown to captain and Scott Vrana to lieutenant.

Two of the four share a surname. Jason Houck and Zach Houck were promoted together, with Jason reaching the department's assistant chief level and Zach taking command as battalion chief.

The promotions mark the second round of leadership changes at the department in three months. In June, the department held a ceremony at Cherry Hill Fire Department Headquarters to promote Stephen G. Kinky to battalion chief and Sean McGowan to captain. Fire Chief Wade Houlihan and Assistant Chiefs Timothy McGeady and Brett DeLucca attended that event. Kinky, who has served with the department since 2007, was assigned as shift commander of A-Platoon. McGowan, with the department since 2009, took over as captain of Station 4 and Engine 1342 on B-Platoon.

Brown was promoted to lieutenant in June 2021 and has now advanced to captain. Vrana has served with the department since at least December 2017.

Shore News Network reported that all four officers' careers spanned multiple Cherry Hill fire companies.

Six officers have now been promoted across two rounds since June, reshaping the department's leadership heading into the fall.