On Wednesday, May 29, 2019, FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro promoted 30 Firefighters to the rank of Lieutenant at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, including two women.
“Every member we promote today has performed admirably – putting in the effort to get here and this achievement today is well-earned,” said Commissioner Nigro. “The newly promoted lieutenants are tasked with the safety of not only the people of our city; you are also responsible for the safety of each and every member in your command.”
Chief of Department John Sudnik underscored the importance of leadership in the Department.
“Your mission is well-defined – simply put, you are here to serve the public and the citizens of the City of New York. You should approach each tour committed to, and focused on, that objective,” said Chief Sudnik. “You are a leader in the greatest Fire Department in the world. Every time you put on an FDNY uniform you are provided with an opportunity, and the privilege, to set an example for all those under your command.”
The two women officers, Sarinya Srisakul and Shkendi Demiri, are longtime members of our Department.
Lieutenant Srisakul is the first Asian woman to earn this fire rank in the FDNY and she sees her historical promotion as a way to encourage more women to join our agency.
“Becoming an officer is something that I always wanted to do because I always looked up to the women officers in the United Women Firefighters organization and I hope seeing me getting promoted helps other women to know that they can achieve what they want in their careers too as long as they work hard and stay focused on their goals,” she said.
Lieutenant Demiri, a US Army Reservist, noted that she’s looking forward to serving the city in her new position.
“I am very excited for this promotion. I’m looking forward to all of the new challenges that await me. I think that is the best part of this job, you never have the same day and it makes going to work very exciting,” she added.
View more photos from the ceremony here.
