Names in the News: January 23, 2022

KRISTIN CROWLEY will become the first-ever female chief in the 136-year history of the Los Angeles (CA) Fire Department (LAFD), pending approval by the city council. Crowley, who is also the LAFD’s administrative operations chief deputy, is a 22-veteran of the department. She is also the department’s first female fire marshal and the second woman to ever hold the rank of chief deputy. Crowley would take over the position from current Chief Ralph Terrazast, who will retire on March 26 after leading the agency since 2014. Terrazas is the first ever Latino chief of the LAFD.

HARP DONNELLY IV was sworn in as the new chief of the Newport (RI) Fire Department (NFD) on January 14. A native of Newport, Donnelly IV is a 23-year NFD veteran who had been serving as its acting chief following the December 2020 retirement of former NFD Chief Brian Dugan. Donnelly IV was previously the NFD’s deputy chief and a member of the department’s leadership team. He joined the department in October 1998 and rose through the ranks to become a lieutenant in August 2012, captain in June 2017, and deputy chief in January 2020.

MICHAEL HOCKLEY took over as the new chief of the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Elk Valley and South Country Rural Fire and Rescue Services (British Columbia, Canada) on January 10. Hockley, who previously served as the RDEK’s deputy chief for six years, takes over the position after previous chief Dave Boreen stepped down in October 2021. He is 27-year veteran of the Canadian armed forces who also worked as a paid on-call firefighter in Alberta. Hockley will work out of the Jaffray fire hall, and he also manages the Baynes Lake, Elko, and Hosmer fire halls.

RYAN NEISEN was sworn in as the new chief of the Hannibal (MO) Fire Department (HFD) on January 18. Neisen is a 20-year veteran of the HFD who also worked as a member of the Hannibal Police Department before becoming a firefighter. He takes over the position from previous HFD Chief Mike Benjamin, who retired from the job after 32 years of service with the HFD.

BRIEN CUMMINGS was elected as the new chief of the Baldwin (NY) Fire Department (BFD). Cummings joined the BFD as a probationary member in 2005 and began moving up the ranks, eventually serving as a lieutenant and captain. Cummings is also a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant. Responsibilities for this one-year position include overseeing operations for two truck and four engine companies and communications with the first-aid squad.