Lillian Bonsignore, appointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani last month, will assume leadership of the Fire Department of New York on Thursday as its first openly gay chief. With decades in emergency medical services but no firefighting experience, her role follows Commissioner Robert Tucker's resignation and underscores debates on diversity in public safety.
As announced by Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on December 24, longtime EMS leader Lillian Bonsignore will take over the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) amid a leadership transition. The move makes her the first openly gay person to head America's largest fire department, with Mamdani taking office the same day.
Bonsignore retired in 2022 after 31 years, including as EMS Operations chief during COVID-19, but returns confident in her expertise: "I know the job!" The appointment follows Robert Tucker's resignation on December 19, which he attributed to ideological differences with the incoming mayor.
Prior coverage noted outgoing Mayor Eric Adams' interim pick, Mark Guerra, serving until January 1. Bonsignore has addressed her non-firefighting background and the focus on her identity, while emphasizing administrative strengths to support firefighters.
The selection advances discussions on representation in city leadership as Mamdani and Bonsignore begin their tenures.
