Mayor Kasim Reed announced June 8 that he has selected former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran as his nominee assume the position of chief of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department in his administration.
Cochran became Atlanta’s fire chief in 2008 but left In 2009 when President Barack Obama appointed him as U.S. Fire Administrator for the United States Fire Administration in Washington, D.C.
“I am pleased to announce my selection of Kelvin Cochran as the next Chief of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department,” said Mayor Reed. “I think that Kelvin is the ideal candidate because he already has great knowledge of the City of Atlanta, and the time he spent in the Obama administration, working with the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA, gave him additional experience to serve our great city.”
Cochran has 29 years of fire service experience. As the U.S. Fire Administrator, Cochran was charged with overseeing, coordinating, and directing national efforts to prevent fires and improve fire response. Cochran also headed fire prevention and safety education programs and professional development opportunities for emergency responders at all levels of government. Cochran has also served as fire chief of Shreveport, Louisiana.
In accepting the appointment, Cochran said, “It’s an extreme honor to have been appointed by Mayor Kasim Reed to return to Atlanta as the next chief of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department. Serving at the federal level has truly been a highlight of my fire service career. Being America’s Fire Chief cannot be understated, but I believe being Atlanta’s fire chief is my career purpose and calling.”