The Department celebrates the FDNY Captain Vernon A. Richard High School Class of 2026

June 26, 2026

The Department held a graduation ceremony for the FDNY Captain Vernon A. Richard High School for Fire and Life Safety Class of 2026 on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall's Island.

The 2026 class is the 19th to graduate from the school. The graduates successfully completed a rigorous program that emphasized leadership and strength as core values, along with the academic and physical skills necessary for emergency responders.

FDNY Captain Vernon A. Richard High School, located in Brooklyn, aims to attract its students to future careers with the FDNY as firefighters, EMTs or paramedics. It's named for FDNY Captain Vernon A. Richard, who was one of the 343 FDNY members who made the Supreme Sacrifice on September 11, 2001.