Atlanta fire chief headed to D.C.
July 7, 2009 at 2:43 pm by Scott Henry in News
I’d heard this rumor late Thursday, but hadn’t been able to confirm it — until now. Atlanta’s own Kelvin Cochran, chief of the Department of Fire Rescue — colloquially known as the fire department — will be moving up to a sweet gig in the Obama administration. Here’s his blurb from the White House press release:
Kelvin James Cochran, Nominee for U.S. Fire Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security
Kelvin Cochran has had 28 years of experience from Firefighter to Assistant Chief Training Officer to Fire Chief of Shreveport, Louisiana, to Fire Chief of Atlanta, Georgia with involvement in all phases of the fire service: fire fighting, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, recruiting, public education, research and development, employee counseling, discipline, performance evaluation, and administration, with specialization in training and strategic planning/facilitating. He has also served as the 1st Vice President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, President of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, and Vice Chairman of Volunteers of America.
Cochran has been with Atlanta only since December 2007, when he was hired to replace Dennis Rubin, another chief who’d left to climb the career ladder. But, a month after his arrival, the city budget crisis was revealed and the Franklin administration began cutting expenses, including shuttering Fire Station No. 7 and, eventually, placing firefighters on furloughs.
In recent months, Cochran’s tenure has arguably been tainted by news that several fire stations had to close temporarily earlier this year when firefighters called in sick, as well as a state report that suggests Atlanta homeowner insurance premiums may rise because of lackluster fire department training and staffing.
Nonetheless, Cochran looks to be moving on up to FEMA. As long as a major American city doesn’t burn to the ground on his watch, he’s got it made.
(Photo courtesy City of Atlanta)
July 8th, 2009 at 12:14 am
Geez, you’re harsh. It’s not Cochran’s fault that Shirley chose to make an example of first-responders by cutting their operations, recruitment and training budgets to the bone. He’s certainly been better for the city and more responsive to its citizens than Pennington. I think he’ll be great at FEMA, and I think this is a real loss for the city.