By FDNY
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Dec. 21 the appointment Chief of Department Salvatore J. Cassano as New York City’s 32nd Fire Commissioner.
Chief Cassano, a 40-year veteran of the FDNY, is the Department’s highest-ranking uniformed officer, a position he has held since 2006.
“He has a lifetime of unmatched experience and will be an outstanding commissioner for the FDNY,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during a press conference at City Hall.
Chief Cassano added: “My goal as Fire Commissioner is to build upon the successes of the last eight years and to make the Department stronger and better than ever before.”
The Chief has served the FDNY as a firefighter, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, deputy chief, deputy assistant chief and assistant chief. He has been cited for bravery five times for rescuing victims from burning buildings.
Following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, Chief Cassano was named Chief of Operations (the second-highest uniformed rank in the FDNY), succeeding Chief Daniel Nigro, who was appointed Chief of Department following the line-of-duty death of Chief Peter Ganci.
In the last eight years, he has played a crucial role in rebuilding the Department. He also has worked to bring significant changes to the FDNY, creating a better prepared, better trained and better equipped FDNY.
With this new role, Chief Cassano said he plans to increase the Department’s focus on fire prevention and emergency medical services, continuing to increase the diversity of the Department’s personnel and increasing firefighter safety, which is his top priority.
He will replace Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, who has served as Commissioner since 2002 and announced in October that he would resign at year’s end. Chief Cassano will begin his role as Commissioner on January 1, 2010.
“Commissioner Scoppetta left a great legacy that [Chief Cassano] can take to new heights,” said Mayor Bloomberg.
Chief Cassano is a U.S. Army veteran with combat experience in Vietnam. He joined the FDNY immediately following the conclusion of his military service in 1969.
He attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science.
Chief Cassano has lived in the Huguenot section of Staten Island for the last 40 years and resides there with his wife, Theresa. They have five children and three grandchildren, including his daughter Katie LiVolsi, who is a former member of the FDNY and is married to FDNY Lt. Christopher LiVolsi. Chief Cassano is a native New York City resident, born in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
“For the last 40 years I have had the honor to work for the world’s best Fire Department,” Chief Cassano said. “This is one more rung to climb in the ladder of success.”