James E. Leonard

James E. Leonard is the Chief of Department for the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).
Leonard is the 35th Chief of Department in the 150-year history of the New York City Fire Department. The Fire Chief is the most senior uniformed member of the fire department.

Leonard has been an FDNY firefighter since beginning in Flatbush in 1979. After spending a year on the "Red Cap" street patrol in East New York, Leonard served in Staten Island in 1987. After several promotions, he became Deputy Chief in 2002. Before becoming Fire Chief, Leonard served as Brooklyn borough commander since 2010.