meet our team

---

Joe LaCognata is the Founder and President of Fire Rescue Support, Inc. Joe started his involvement with emergency services in 1986 as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. Since becoming a pastor in 1994, his connection with emergency services has been through the chaplaincy with both police and fire departments.

Joe retired from day-to-day operations as Chaplain with Marion County Fire Rescue, Ocala Fire Rescue, and The Villages Department of Public Safety in February 2026. He currently serves as the Statewide Chaplaincy Coordinator with the Florida Firefighter Safety and Health Collaborative and as Chaplain with the Florida Fire Chiefs Association. In addition, Joe is an Approved Instructor with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.

 Joe has been married to Kim since 1985 and they are the proud parents of five amazing children, four wonderful sons-in-law, and four adorable grandchildren. 

Josh grew up in Marion County and as a senior in high school he attended the Marion County Fire Rescue Career Academy. He started full time with MCFR as a Firefighter/EMT in February of 2009. Josh then went on to paramedic school in 2010 and worked as a Firefighter/Paramedic assigned to the Hazmat station.

In 2016 Josh left the fire department to pursue a ministry opportunity in Kansas City, Missouri. He never thought he would leave, but he knew that God was drawing him to this opportunity, and he wanted to be obedient. Josh moved back to Florida in 2020, to help in ministry at a church here in Ocala, and he immediately began thinking of ways he could get involved with the fire department again. He started serving as a chaplain part-time in May 2023 and became full-time in February 2026.

Working as a chaplain, Josh is living out his dream in the best way: sharing hope and encouragement with the people that he respects and admires most.

Josh has been married to his wife Courtney since 2010 and they have 6 amazing children.

Josh served nearly 10 years with Marion County Fire Rescue as a Driver/Engineer before leaving to pursue another business interest. However, his love for the fire service and for his brother and sister firefighters brought him back to serve as a chaplain beginning in 2016. 

Josh brings not only fire rescue experience, but also integrity, faith, and his heart for people.

Josh and his wife Meghan have been married since 2011 and have three boys.