Joe Polenzani is a Captain with the Franklin (TN) Fire Department.  He holds a bachelor's degree in fire administration and is a state-certified Apparatus Operator, Fire Officer II, Safety Officer, and Instructor I.  He also holds numerous certifications in technical rescue and fire training.  Joe is Chairman of Franklin's Training Committee and serves as an instructor for the department's rookie school. 

Joe has developed and taught department-wide in-service classes in high angle rescue, confined space rescue, and rapid intervention operations.  In 2006 and 2008, Joe was selected to teach a class on RIT operations at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis.  Before coming to Franklin, Joe spent ten years with the Ashland City (TN) Fire Department, the last four as a captain. 

While in Ashland City, Joe was a member of the Cheatham County Firefighters' Association training committee and coordinated the implementation of a passport-based accountability system for three county fire departments. 

Joe is an active member of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) and Vice President of the Middle-Tennessee F.O.O.L.S.  Joe is also certified to teach Tennessee's only portable flashover simulator.

When not at work, Joe enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter at the lake enjoying activities on the water.