Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that he has appointed Richard C. Ford II as the new Chicago Fire Department (CFD) Commissioner. Ford, who was most recently CFD’s First Deputy Commissioner, will replace retired Commissioner Jose A. Santiago. Ford has been with CFD for 35 years and has served as the First Deputy Commissioner since February 2016 overseeing their day-to-day operations. He previously served as Deputy Fire Commissioner of Fire Prevention, a role in which he was responsible for CFD’s enforcement of fire and building code compliance. He has also previously served as the Assistant Director of Training, Chicago Transit Authority Liaison and served as the Battalion Chief for Engine 42 Firehouse. Ford received his Bachelor of Applied Science from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, in 2008. Born and raised in the Chatham neighborhood, Ford is a life-long Chicagoan. Ford began serving as Acting Commissioner on September 1, 2018. In 2017, CFD partnered with the Chicago Police Department, the Office Emergency Management and Communications and EMS System Hospitals on a new scenario-based crisis response training course to enhance the city’s mental health response.