List of heads of the Chicago Fire Department
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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.
| Head of the Chicago Fire Department | |
|---|---|
Incumbent since 2021Annette Nance Holt | |
| Inaugural holder | Hirman Hugunin (as "Chief Engineer") |
| Formation | 1835 (as "Chief Engineer") |
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)
Fire Commissioners (1927–present)
| Name | Tenure start | Tenure end | Mayor(s) served under | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Goodrich | 1927 | 1931 | William Hale Thompson Anton Cermak | [3][6] | |
| Edward A. Maloney (acting) | 1931 | August 15, 1931 | Anton Cermak | [7] | |
| Daniel J. Carmody (acting) | August 15, 1931 | September 1931 | Anton Cermak | Died in office | [7][8] |
| Michael J. Corrigan | 1937 | March 16, 1955 | Edward Joseph Kelly Martin H. Kennelly | [3][9] | |
| Anthony J. Mullaney | April 16, 1955 | 1957 | Edward Joseph Kelly Richard J. Daley | [10][3][11] | |
| Robert J. Quinn | March 1957 | 1978 | Richard J. Daley Michael Bilandic | [3] | |
| Richard Albrecht | 1978 | August 1980 | Michael Bilandic Jane Byrne | [3] | |
| Charles Pierce (acting) | August 1980 | September 1980 | Jane Byrne | [3] | |
| William R. Blair | September 1980 | August 1983 | Jane Byrne Harold Washington | [3] | |
| Louis T. Galante | August 1983 | May 10, 1989 | Harold Washington David Orr (acting) Eugene Sawyer Richard M. Daley | [3] | |
| Raymond E. Orozco | May 10, 1989 | November 1996 | Richard M. Daley | [3][12] | |
| Edward P. Altman | 1996 | October 15, 1999 | Richard M. Daley | [13] | |
| James Joyce | December 15, 1999 | April 30, 2004 | Richard M. Daley | [3][14] | |
| Cortez Trotter | 2004 | 2006 | Richard M. Daley | [15][16] | |
| Raymond E. Orozco Jr. | May 2006 | June 2010 | Richard M. Daley | ||
| Robert Hoff | June 2010 | February 16, 2012 | Richard M. Daley Rahm Emanuel | [17] | |
| Jose Santiago | April 18, 2012 | August 31, 2018 | Rahm Emanuel | [18][19][20] | |
| Richard C. Ford II | September 1, 2018 | April 2021 | Rahm Emanuel Lori Lightfoot | 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 | [19][21][22] |
| Annette Nance Holt | 2021 | incumbent | Lori Lightfoot Brandon Johnson | Initially performed as acting fire commissioner. Was confirmed as permanent fire commissioner by the Chicago City Council on June 23, 2021 | [23][24][25] |
Notes
^A 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