Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro Appoints Pamela M. Lassiter as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro today announced the appointment of Pamela M. Lassiter as FDNY’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO). Ms. Lassiter, who will serve as a member of the Commissioner’s executive leadership team and will hold the in-house title of Deputy Commissioner, is responsible for creating, implementing, assessing and gaining support for diversity and inclusion efforts agency-wide. She will also oversee the agency’s recruitment efforts and equal employment opportunity compliance.  

“Pamela Lassiter is the perfect candidate for this newly created and critically important position in our ongoing effort to become a more diverse, welcoming and inclusive Fire Department,” said Commissioner Nigro. “With more than 25 years of experience in the public and private sector, building and overseeing programs and efforts to improve workplace diversity and inclusiveness, she brings proven leadership and success in this field and I’m confident that - as she’s done at multiple organizations – she will help the FDNY effectively address this challenge.” 

“I am excited to be joining the world’s greatest Fire Department at this important, historic time in its history,” said Lassiter. “Achieving greater diversity and building the structure and support for a more inclusive department are key goals I share with Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Nigro. Whether in the office, the firehouse or EMS station, we will work hard to make sure everyone in the FDNY feels welcome, appreciated and accepted for who they are.”  

Deputy Commissioner Lassiter will report directly to Commissioner Nigro and will also be responsible for ensuring all new recruitment and diversity strategic initiatives comply with Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and Law Department guidelines. She will also serve as liaison to employee affinity and fraternal organizations.   

Lassiter, a graduate of the University of Virginia Law School, has extensive experience in diversity and inclusion, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and workforce development, in both the public and private sectors. Her public service includes work as equal opportunity specialist for the U.S.  Department of Labor (1988-1989); director of compliance and diversity programs for the City University of New York (1999-2000); and associate director of workforce diversity at UMDNJ (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; 2005-2007). She has also worked extensively in the private sector, as the senior EEO representative at Empire BlueCross Blue Shield (1989-1991); employment administrator at The CIT Group (1991-1995); human resources staff manager at AT&T; benefits consultant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers – HR Solutions (1998-1999);director of human resources at Navisys Inc. (2000-2001); and human resources consultant at Ajilon Professional Staffing (2005).  

For the past year, Lassiter has been director of the office of diversity and equity programs at Southern Connecticut State University, where she was responsible for university compliance, complaint investigations

and training for more than 11,000 employees and students. She chaired the university President’s Commission on Campus Climate and Inclusion, creating a respectful environment for all, with particular attention to programs and policies designed to increase inclusion and participation of traditionally underrepresented groups. She also investigated and responded to complaints of sexual discrimination, misconduct, or harassment.   

Between 2008 and 2013, she was special assistant to the chancellor and director of equity and affirmative action at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, overseeing workplace compliance issues, complaint investigations, training and diversity reporting and monitoring for more than 15,000 employees and students. She led the Alliance for Equity and Diversity committee of affinity groups to provide strategic planning and monitoring progress; and wrote the campus’ first Equity and Inclusivity Key Operational Plan and presented its achievements to the Board of Regents.  For five years, Lassiter led Social Justice Week, a week of activities and speakers designed to enhance knowledge of and engagement in social justice and inclusivity issues.   

Lassiter holds a Bachelors’ degree in economics and sociology from Queens College, as well as advanced training and certifications from the National Employment Law Institute (NELI), Stop the Hate (bias incident training), and Gate Keeper (behavioral intervention training). She has taught both undergraduate and graduate business courses in organizational behavior, business law, employment discrimination law, and negotiations at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, New York Institute of Technology, William Paterson University, and Rutgers.