Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino has appointed a US Navy officer as Boston’s next fire commissioner.
Roderick J. Fraser, Jr., 42, recently completed a 20 year career with the United States Navy, finishing as the commanding officer of the USS Underwood, a ship that protected offshore oil terminals and trained the Iraqi navy in anti-terrorism protection, firefighting, ship handling, and maritime security procedures.
“His experience in fire-fighting, training, and anti-terrorism strategies will provide Boston with the ability to win the natural and man-made challenges we may confront in the years ahead,” said Menino, who still has several high-profile posts to fill, including a permanent police commissioner, school superintendent, and his own chief of staff.
During his career in the Navy, Fraser also served as director of Engineering, Damage Control, and Fire Fighting training at the Surface Warfare Officers School Command in Newport, RI. In his post at the USS Underwood, Fraser was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for commanding a multi-national force during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He is a native of East Millinocket, Maine, and Fraser and his wife, Angela, have two children, Matthew and Mara.
