WASHINGTON — Chief Gregory B. Cade has been officially announced as the new U.S. Fire Administrator. 

The Senate voted unanimously Friday to confirm the nomination of the 40-year veteran of the fire service.

President Bush nominated Cade December of last year, and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee reported his nomination favorably to the full Senate in April. He succeeds former U.S. Fire Administrator and current FEMA Administrator, Chief R. David Paulison.

"Chief Cade is an experienced fire-service leader dedicated to improving the safety of America's firefighters," said IAFC President Chief Jim Harmes. "The IAFC endorsed Chief Cade's nomination and looks forward to working with him in his new capacity at the U.S. Fire Administration."

Cade has spent the last eight years serving as fire chief and emergency-services coordinator for the community of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

In addition to his duties at local level, Chief Cade has also served on the National Urban Search and Rescue Team Advisory Board and as a sponsoring agency chief for Virginia Task Force 2. Cade also has received national recognition for his involvement in municipal government. 

He started out as a volunteer with the Glenn Dale Volunteer Fire Department in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Cade became a career firefighter in Prince George's County in 1971, and after serving that department in various capacities for more than 20 years was hired as the fire chief for Hampton, Virginia.

In 1998, he became the fire chief and emergency management coordinator in Virginia Beach. Under Cade's direction, Virginia Beach became one of the first fire departments in the country to be accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

"I have had the pleasure of knowing Chief Cade for several years through the Institution of Fire Engineers," said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. "He is intelligent, motivated, and a great choice for this position."