(Gaithersburg) - Frank Jacob has taken office as President and Ken Knopp has begun serving a second term as senior Deputy Chief of the Gaithersburg - Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department. Both were elected to their positions by the GWGVFD membership in December. Former president Ed Tobias did not run for re-election. He will continue to serve as the GWGVFD’s Public Information Officer.

Jacob, who lives in Germantown, is a twenty-year veteran of the GWGVFD. He is a past-president, has served on the fire department's Board of Directors, and has held every operational rank except for Fire Chief.

Knopp, who lives in Boyds, has been a GWGVFD member for 14 years. He has served as the department's treasurer and on its Board of Directors. As senior Deputy Chief he will continue to be in charge of the department's training programs.

Also elected, as members of the GWGVFD Board of Directors, were John Epling and Sun Young (Esther) Kim, both of Gaithersburg. Robert "Cuz" Harding was re-elected as Secretary.