Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958, Dwight Williams (212) 788-2972 or
Michael Regan (718) 694-2025 (FDNY)
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen today presided over a City Hall promotion ceremony for 21 members of the Fire Department, including the elevation of three chiefs to the top uniformed positions in the Fire Department and the appointment of an Assistant Chief Fire Marshal. In addition, five Battalion Chiefs were promoted to Deputy Chief, and 12 Captains were promoted to Battalion Chief.
"Each of you has proven your bravery, your professionalism and your commitment," Mayor Giuliani said. "Now it is our turn to recognize you for the years of outstanding service to the citizens and the City of New York. Fire fighting is one of the most difficult and demanding jobs imaginable. Every creature on Earth is born with an instinct to run from a fire -- only firefighters run into fires. The passion firefighters feel for saving lives, for rescuing their fellow citizens, makes the members of the Department true heroes to whom all New Yorkers owe a debt of gratitude. Those of you being promoted today are the bravest of the brave and the best of the best. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I would like to thank each of you for your selfless dedication to the safety and well being of all our residents and I congratulate you on this well deserved recognition."
"In addition to being highly skilled fire officers, each of these new appointees has demonstrated excellent managerial skills off of the fireground," Fire Commissioner Von Essen said. "Together we will work to focus the attention and resources of the Department on the basics: protecting the lives and property of all New Yorkers by maintaining safe and rapid response to fires; protecting the health and safety of our City's firefighters; and increasing the Department's commitment to fire safety education in order to prevent fires from occurring. These veteran fire officers, and all the members of this Department, are committed to providing New York City with the best fire protection in the world."
Chief Joseph Casaburi, a 34-year veteran, was promoted to Chief of Department, the highest uniformed position in the Department. His responsibilities include management of all uniformed personnel in the Fire Department, as well as members of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services following the merger of the FDNY and Emergency Medical Services in 1996.
Chief Casaburi has a long history of both creative management and problem-solving on the fire operations side of the Department. He has also been one of the prominent Department leaders in the development of public education and community involvement programs. As part of his most recent assignment, as Deputy Assistant Chief, Casaburi was involved in coordinating civic and community groups on Staten Island with Fire Department retirees to begin building a fire prevention and safety education program for senior citizens who are often the victims of fires.
Chief Peter Ganci, a 28-year veteran of the FDNY, was promoted to Chief of Operations. He most recently served as Assistant Chief of Operations and Chief of the Bureau of Fire Investigation. As Chief of Operations, he will be directly responsible for management of the Department's fire suppression operations and its 11,500 uniformed personnel.
Chief Steven DeRosa, a 32-year veteran, was promoted to Assistant Chief in Charge of the Division of Training. He was serving as Division Commander in Queens, Chief DeRosa will be responsible for management and operation of the Department's training programs, including instruction and educational courses for probationary firefighters and newly promoted field officers. He will also oversee specialized training programs such as CFR-D (Certified First Responder-Defibrillation).
In the Department's Bureau of Fire Investigation (BFI), Supervising Fire Marshal Louis Garcia, who has served as Acting Assistant Chief Fire Marshal for the past year, was promoted to Assistant Chief Fire Marshal. He is responsible for fire investigation operations citywide, and is second in command at BFI.
Officers promoted to Deputy and Battalion Chiefs will assume increased responsibilities in their respective titles as fireground supervisors throughout the five boroughs.