First female FDNY commissioner, Laura Kavanagh, resigns: ‘Honor of a lifetime’

NEW YORK (PIX11) — The head of the New York City Fire Department, Laura Kavanagh, is stepping down as fire commissioner. She announced her resignation on Saturday.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams appointed Kavanagh in 2022, making her the first female commissioner in the FDNY’s 157-year history. She oversaw a department of 17,000 employees, including firefighters and emergency medical workers.

In a statement obtained by PIX11 News, Kavanagh said she will stay on for several months until a new commissioner is appointed.

“New York City will always be the love of my life. My dedication to the FDNY has never and will never waver. It has been the honor of a lifetime to devote the last 10 years — five as first deputy commissioner and more than two as commissioner — to advocating for the men and women of the FDNY. While the decision I have made over the last month has been a hard one, I’m confident that it is time for me to pass the torch to the next leader of the finest Fire Department in the world. I look forward to spending the next several months assisting the department’s transition in leadership, before embarking on my next professional challenge. Thank you Mayor Adams for the opportunity you gave me and for your continued support of me and the FDNY.”

FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh

With more than a decade of experience before her appointment, Kavanagh had served as acting commissioner since the retirement of Commissioner Daniel Nigro. Her experience includes public policy, government, and emergency management.

Kavanagh is a graduate of Whittier College in California and has a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University.

This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press .

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here .

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