List of heads of the Chicago Fire Department explained

Post:Head
Body:the Chicago Fire Department
Insigniasize:100px
Incumbent:Annette Nance Holt
Incumbentsince:2021
Formation:1835 (as "Chief Engineer")
Inaugural:Hirman Hugunin (as "Chief Engineer")

The following is a list of heads of the Chicago Fire Department in Chicago, Illinois United States. This includes heads of the original iteration of Chicago's fire department, a volunteer force which preceded the establishment of the current, professional, fire department in 1858.

Currently the executive of the Chicago Fire Department is referred to as the "fire commissioner".[1] Before this, the head of the department was known as the "chief engineer".

The current head, holding the position of "fire commissioner", is Annette Nance Holt, appointed by mayor Lori Lightfoot in 2021.[1]

History

Currently, the head of the Chicago Fire Department is appointed by the mayor of Chicago, and confirmed by the Chicago City Council.

Originally, the leader of the Chicago Fire Department was known as chief engineer. This position was created by an ordinance passed by the then-village of Chicago's board of trustees in November 1835. In December 1835, Chicago's board of trustees appointed its president Hirman Hugunin to be the inaugural occupant of this position.[2] [3] In 1837, when Chicago was incorporated as a city, its charter had the position be one which was elected annually by the city's voters. If an election saw no candidates, thus failing to produce an occupant of the office, the Chicago Common Council (as the Chicago City Council was known as the time) would appoint one.[3] This position originally oversaw a volunteer fire department, until the modern iteration of the Chicago Fire Department was established by city ordinance on August 2, 1858.[3]

In 1927, the title of chief engineer was replaced with the new title of fire commissioner.[3]

List of heads of the Chicago Fire Department

Chief Engineers (1835–1927)

NameTenure startTenure endMayor(s) served underNotesRef
Hirman Hugunin December 1835 February 17, 1836 N/A
George E. Snow February 17, 1836 February 1837 N/A
John M. Turner February 1837 1839
1839 1839
Alvin Calhoun 18391840
Luther Nichols 1840 1841
A.S. Sherman 1841 1844
Stephen F. Gale 1844 1847
Charles E. Peck (acting) 1847 1849
Ashley Gilbert 1849 1850
Cyrus P. Bradley 1850 1851
1851 1852
U.P. Harris 1852 1854
Cyrus P. Bradley 1854 1855
Silas McBride 18551857
Dennis J. Swenie 1858 March 1859 [4]
Dennis J. Swenie November 10, 1879 June 1, 1909

Fire Commissioners (1927–present)

NameTenure startTenure endMayor(s) served underNotesRef
Albert Goodrich 1927 1931 [5]
Edward A. Maloney (acting) 1931 August 15, 1931 [6]
Daniel J. Carmody (acting) August 15, 1931 September 1931 [7]
Michael J. Corrigan 1937 March 16, 1955 [8]
Anthony J. Mullaney April 16, 1955 1957 [9] [10]
Robert J. Quinn March 1957 1978
Richard Albrecht 1978 August 1980
Charles Pierce (acting) August 1980 September 1980
William R. Blair September 1980 August 1983
Louis T. Galante August 1983 May 10, 1989
Raymond E. Orozco May 10, 1989 November 1996 [11]
Edward P. Altman 1996 October 15, 1999 [12]
James Joyce December 15, 1999 April 30, 2004 [13]
Cortez Trotter 2004 2006 [14] [15]
Raymond E. Orozco Jr. May 2006 June 2010 Richard M. Daley
Robert Hoff June 2010 February 16, 2012 [16]
Jose Santiago April 18, 2012 August 31, 2018 [17] [18] [19]
Richard C. Ford II September 1, 2018 April 2021 Served as acting commissioner from September 1, 2018 until being confirmed by the Chicago City Council to permanently hold the position on November 14, 2018 [20] [21]
Annette Nance Holt 2021 incumbent Initially performed as acting fire commissioner. Was confirmed as permanent fire commissioner by the Chicago City Council on June 23, 2021 [22] [23] [24]

Notes

Hirman Hugunin and George E Snow's tenures predate the incorporation of Chicago as a city. While no mayor was serving at the time they were High Constable, John H. Kinzie was Town President

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fire - Leadership . www.chicago.gov . City of Chicago . 19 June 2021 . en.
  2. Web site: Meet "Chicago's Twins" . www.firehouse.com . 19 June 2021 . 1 September 2005.
  3. Web site: HISTORY OF THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT . chicago.gov . City of Chicago . 19 June 2021.
  4. Web site: Chief Swenie . chicagology.com . 19 June 2021.
  5. Web site: A.W. GOODRICH IS DEAD; EX-FIRE COMMISSIONER . Newspapers.com . Chicago Tribune . 19 June 2021 . en . subscription . 31 Mar 1938.
  6. Web site: DANIEL CARMODY APPOINTED HEAD OF FIRE DEPT. . Newspapers.com . Chicago Tribune . 20 June 2021 . en . subscription . 16 Aug 1931.
  7. Web site: Fire Commissioner of Chicago Dead . Fire Engineering . 25 June 2021 . 1933-10-01.
  8. Web site: CORRIGAN QUITS AND MULLANEY GETS HIS JOB . Newspapers.com . Chicago Tribune . 25 June 2021 . en . subscription . 16 Mar 1955.
  9. Web site: NEW COMMISSIONER . Newspapers.com . Chicago Tribune . 25 June 2021 . en . subscription . 17 Mar 1955.
  10. Web site: ANTHONY J. MULLANEY . The New York Times . 19 June 2021 . 1960-11-29.
  11. Web site: Zielinski . Graeme . RETIRING CHIEF KEPT POLITICAL FIRE AT BAY . chicagotribune.com . Chicago Tribune . 19 June 2021 . 15 November 1996.
  12. Web site: Almer . Ellen . Chicago Fire Commissioner Edward Altman resigned today... . Chicago Tribune . 25 June 2021 . 15 October 1999.
  13. Web site: Washburn . Gary . NEW FIRE CHIEF SHAKES UP DEPARTMENT . Chicago Tribune . 25 June 2021 . 28 December 1999.
  14. Web site: Washburn . Gary . Joyce exits; Daley taps 1st black chief . chicagotribune.com . Chicago Tribune . 25 June 2021 . 2 April 2004.
  15. Web site: Trotter Named Chief Emergency Officer, Orozco New Fire Commissioner for Chicago . GovTech . 25 June 2021 . en . 2010-07-28.
  16. Web site: Chicago Fire Commissioner Hoff Resigns . www.firehouse.com . 25 June 2021 . 16 February 2012.
  17. Web site: Spielman . Fran . Chicago fire commissioner awaits his fate as he nears mandatory retirement age . Chicago Sun-Times . 25 June 2021 . en . 2018-08-12.
  18. Web site: Mayor Emanuel Taps Richard Ford II As New Fire Commissioner . chicago.cbslocal.com . CBS Chicago (WBBM-TV) . 25 June 2021 . 2018-09-21.
  19. Web site: CITY COUNCIL APPROVES JOSE SANTIAGO AS CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER . Office of the Mayor of the City of Chicago . 25 June 2021 . 18 April 2012.
  20. Web site: Will Chicago get its first Black female fire chief? The Crusader Newspaper Group . Chicago Crusader . 25 June 2021 . 23 June 2021.
  21. Web site: CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMS MAYOR EMANUEL'S APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD FORD AS NEW FIRE COMMISSIONER . Office of the Mayor of the City of Chicago . 25 June 2021 . 14 November 2018.
  22. Web site: Annette Nance-Holt Becomes First Black Woman to Lead Chicago Fire Department . NBC Chicago . 25 June 2021 . 23 June 2021.
  23. Web site: First Black female fire commissioner nominee awaits City Council approval The Crusader Newspaper Group . Chicago Crusader . 14 June 2021 . 21 May 2021.
  24. Web site: Annette Nance-Holt becomes Chicago Fire Department Commissioner. . Chicago Defender . 14 June 2021 . 2021-05-15.

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