By Chris Sommerfeldt, Leonard Greene
New York Daily News
NEW YORK 鈥� Robert Tucker, a committed philanthropist with deep roots in civic service and strong ties to public safety, was appointed as on Monday.
Like the commissioner he replaces, Robert Tucker has never been a uniformed firefighter. But he can trace his FDNY roots back to the early 1980s, when, during his first-ever job as a summer intern in the department, he fetched coffee and mapped fires across the five boroughs.
鈥淔rom that summer job and paper map I became captivated with the business of public safety,鈥� Tucker said during an appointment ceremony at the FDNY Fire Academy on . 鈥淭hese people are real superheroes, and I couldn鈥檛 respect them more.鈥�
Tucker replaces the department鈥檚 first woman commissioner, whose embattled tenure featured clashes with several department chiefs who resigned or were demoted over various disagreements.
Kavanagh鈥檚 last day was last Wednesday.
Tucker, who is white, takes over the department amid ongoing friction between the FDNY and some of its Black firefighters, who say they have struggled for decades to diversify the department.
But Mayor Adams insisted Tucker鈥檚 appointment came with the blessing of Regina Wilson, president of the an organization that advocates for Black firefighters.
鈥淚 knew what he was inheriting,鈥� Adams said at Monday鈥檚 ceremony.
鈥淗e was inheriting more than just a department that had to put out flames inside burning buildings. We have to put out flames that are actually burning inside the agency. It is going to take a level of honesty and the ability to communicate to accomplish that task.鈥�
He said the new deputy has to 鈥渕end some of the fences that have been broken for decades.鈥�
鈥淚 knew Robert was the one to do it,鈥� he added.
Adams spoke of Tucker鈥檚 legacy. His mother worked for 12 years in the administration of former Mayor Ed Koch.
Tucker, 51, is currently the chairman and CEO of T&M Protection Resources and a longstanding member of the board of directors of the FDNY Foundation.
As commissioner, Tucker takes the reins of a department with 17,000 employees, including firefighters and emergency medical workers.
鈥淚 can think of no higher calling than serving as fire commissioner of the city of New York,鈥� Tucker said. 鈥淭his is truly a dream come true.鈥�
Tucker became involved in fundraising for the FDNY after the terror attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
In 2014, he was named an honorary fire commissioner for his work at the FDNY Foundation, which previously named him an honorary assistant chief in 2010 and an honorary deputy chief. He formerly served on Mayor Adams鈥� Public Safety and Justice transition committee.
His appointment was lauded by unions representing New York City firefighters.
鈥淚t is great to see that the new commissioner has long and deep ties with the FDNY and a great appreciation for the rank and file of New York City鈥檚 Bravest,鈥� Andrew Ansbro, President of the FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Association said in a statement.
鈥淗is experience makes him uniquely qualified to understand the changes that could be made to improve efficiency in the department by increasing unit availability, which would lead to a decrease in response times.鈥�
James Brosi, president of the FDNY Uniformed Fire Officers Association, highlighted Tucker鈥檚 鈥渆xecutive experience.鈥�
鈥淗is longstanding relationship with public services, specifically his work on the board of the FDNY Foundation, gives him an insight into the complexity and culture of the FDNY,鈥� Brosi said.
Not everyone was thrilled with Tucker鈥檚 introduction Monday. Oren Barzilay, president of the EMS Local 2057 union that represents EMTs and paramedics, and fire inspectors, was upset that Tucker barely mentioned EMS workers at his appointment ceremony.
鈥淪omeone needs to inform the new FDNY Commissioner that he represents the largest EMS system in the entire nation,鈥� Barzilay said in a statement. 鈥淥ur members were completely relegated to a postscript mention in the new commissioner鈥檚 remarks, which is an insult to thousands who wear the uniform as FDNY EMTs, paramedics and fire protection inspectors.鈥�
Tucker has a long record of being politically involved in the city, giving more than $15,000 to various local elected officials over the past two decades, city Campaign Finance Board records show.
None of Tucker鈥檚 donations have been directed to Adams. In fact, Tucker gave to Adams鈥� Democratic opponents in the 2021 mayoral race 鈥� including $2,000 to former city Comptroller Scott Stringer and $1,000 to businessman Ray McGuire 鈥� as well as $2,000 to Fernando Mateo, a restaurant owner who mounted a failed Republican mayoral bid that year, records show.
漏2024 New York Daily News.
Visit .
Distributed by