Virginia Beach Rotary Club Awards AC Lorna Trent the 2024 City of Virginia Beach Outstanding City Employee Award

On Thursday, Oct. 10, the Virginia Beach Rotary Club recognized and awarded the 2024 City of Virginia Beach Outstanding City Employee Award to Assistant Chief Lorna B. Trent of the Virginia Beach Fire Department. Trent was nominated by her peers, including Fire Chief Ken Pravetz, for her dedication, professionalism, and strong leadership. Pravetz stated, “I have had the privilege of witnessing Assistant Chief Trent's exceptional commitment to excellence, leadership, and service to our community. Her performance, state and national recognition, community and civic engagement, and continuous self-advancement make her an exemplary candidate for this prestigious honor.”

The award was presented by Ross Loomis, president, and Patti Phillips, the program’s lead, on October 10, surrounded by family, friends, coworkers, and previous alumni of this honor. The Virginia Beach Rotary Club has been recognizing the significant work of Virginia Beach City government employees annually since 1980. 

Trent has led several initiatives within the city, including the response to the 5/31 and the following Memorial Services. She has also been the lead with the Department’s Honor Guard on many line-of-duty death funerals, creating lasting memories for the families. She is also the founder of the non-profit Virginia Beach Fire Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting the mission of the Fire Department by preserving the department’s history, funding community risk reduction and safety education programs, and improving firefighter safety and quality of life. 

Assistant Chief Trent is committed to lifelong learning and professional growth. She completed her Juris Doctor Degree and the bar exam. She has also earned multiple certifications, including Paramedic, and completed the Virginia Fire Marshal Academy, where she was the department’s first female Fire Marshal.

Chief Trent exemplifies “Service Above Self,” the foundation of Rotary; another peer stated, “The characteristics of Chief Trent mirror those of Rotary members: honesty, integrity, respect, empathy, passion, accountability, courage, transparency, strong leadership, intuition, mentorship, selflessness, and she’s a visionary.”

Rotary is a worldwide organization dedicated to service to the community and internationally. 

For more information about Virginia Beach Rotary Club, visit vbrotary.com.