Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh presides at FDNY Promotion Ceremony

April 30, 2024

Eleven members of the FDNY were promoted to Battalion Chief at a ceremony Tuesday, April 30, in the Commissioner Robert O. Lowery Auditorium at FDNY Headquarters.

"Today is a day that is long in the making. For months, you toiled over books — studying for hours on end, reading and reviewing to make sure the skills you need to be prepared are sharp," Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said. "You have observed the strategies used by others to become effective leaders, and you've thought about what strategies you'd like to employ once you begin your role as Battalion Chiefs. You have likely leaned on each other for guidance and counsel, and you are here to celebrate and support each other as you reach this milestone in your careers."

"Each of you brings decades of experience to your new position," Chief of Department John Hodgens said. "That experience is critical on the fireground. You are now responsible for important decisions that will impact dozens of firefighters on every tour. You are the Incident Commander at a fire and, at tough moments, our members will turn to you and will rely on you to make decisions. It is a tremendous responsibility, but I know each of your experiences will inform you to make the right choices."

Together, the newly promoted members represent more than 230 years of experience with the Department. The new Battalion Chiefs will be assigned to various units throughout the city.