Laura Kavanagh

Laura Kavanagh (born 1981 or 1982) is an American government official who served as the 34th commissioner of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). She was first woman to hold the position. Appointed by Mayor Eric Adams on October 27, 2022, Kavanagh oversaw the diversification of the FDNY applicant pool, including graduating the largest group of women in nearly three decades.

Prior to her appointment as Fire Commissioner, Kavanagh spent several years with the FDNY, involved in the agency's response to major incidents including the Ebola outbreak of 2014 and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Kavanagh's tenure as commissioner was met with opposition by rank-and-file members of the FDNY based on her relatively young age, lack of any experience as a first responder and allegations of her department's demoting older and more experienced fire chiefs.

Kavanagh resigned on August 7, 2024. Provided by Wikipedia