Robert Tucker named new FDNY commissioner
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Mayor Eric Adams appointed Robert Tucker as New York City's new fire commissioner.
Adams announced Tucker as the FDNY commissioner during a special ceremony held at the fire academy on Randall's Island Monday morning.
Cardinal Dolan gave a special blessing to Tucker and the department at the start of the ceremony.
Tucker's 86-year-old father held the Bible used to swear him in.
Tucker called the appointment the "biggest honor of my life."
"I can think of no higher calling than serving as the fire commissioner for the City of New York," Tucker said. "This is truly a dream come true."
Tucker is currently the chairman and CEO of T&M Protection Resources and a long-standing member of the board of directors of the FDNY Foundation.
According to the organization, Tucker has never worked as a firefighter, but his first-ever employer was the FDNY in the communication office.
"We must meet the moment and deliver real solutions for this city and the heroes who serve it," Tucker said. "I am making a commitment today to do just that. While New York City's bravest fight fires inside burning buildings, my job will be to fight fires for them, and the city, from the outside."
The unions representing firefighters in New York City released statements of support of the new commissioner.
Andrew Ansbro, President of the FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Association said in a statement:
"It is great to see that the new commissioner has long and deep ties with the FDNY and a great appreciation for the rank and file of New York City's bravest. From his early start in communications and his hard work and life-long dedication, which led to his appointment to the Board of Directors for the FDNY Foundation, his experience makes him uniquely qualified to understand the changes that could be made to improve efficiency in the department by increasing unit availability, which would lead to a decrease in response times. This would enable the department to better serve the FDNY's mission to protect lives and property in New York City. We wish him luck and success as he assumes the role of commissioner of the FDNY, the greatest fire department in the world."
James Brosi, President of the FDNY Uniformed Fire Officers Association said in a statement:
"The UFOA looks forward to working with Commissioner Tucker. His long-standing relationship with public services, specifically his work on the board of the FDNY Foundation, gives him an insight into the complexity and culture of the FDNY. His leadership and executive experience in the private sector should enable him to effectively confront the challenges of the FDNY."
Meanwhile, Joe Pfeifer had been serving as the acting commissioner since Laura Kavanagh stepped down after two years on the job. She was appointed back in 2022 and was the first woman to serve in this role, since the department's creation in 1865. Her last day was August 7.
During an interview on GMA3, Kavanagh stated what she hopes her successor will bring to the table.
"It's going to the EMS and firehouse stations. There's nothing like it in this whole world. I hope the next commissioner takes that to heart. This a job where people sometimes feel like it's very top down. You have to give order. I hope the next commissioner says the place to be is at the kitchen table, as they say, and is a ground-up leader," she said.
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