Dr. Kwame Cooper Named as the FDNY’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Today, Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh swore in Dr. Kwame Cooper as FDNY’s new Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO). Dr. Cooper, who will serve as a member of the Commissioner’s executive leadership team and will hold the in-house title of Deputy Commissioner, and is responsible for creating, implementing, assessing, and gaining support for diversity and inclusion efforts agency wide.

“Kwame Cooper is a dedicated public servant who has bravely served as a Firefighter and Chief Officer in Los Angeles for nearly four decades, and now brings his unique experience and vast knowledge of fire service, diversity and inclusion to the FDNY,” said Fire Commissioner Kavanagh. “He understands the culture of the Fire Service and knows firsthand what needs to be improved to create a more inclusive environment for all the men and women of the FDNY.”

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion create unique challenges and opportunities for fire service leadership, and throughout my career as a Firefighter – and later leading as a Fire Chief myself – I have overseen important initiatives across the country to meet those challenges head on and improve how firefighters treat one another in the work environment,” said Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Cooper. “I believe inclusiveness is a fundamental principle of leadership, and I am honored to join the FDNY and help this incredible organization build upon its successes and achieve its goals.”

Watch video highlights from the ceremony here.