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Kelvin J. Cochran
Fire Chief
The Office of the Fire Chief is responsible for the overall operation and direction of the Department through the implementation of the strategic plan to ensure that its objectives are consistent with the City of Atlanta's mission, vision and values.
Chief Cochran's began his career in the fire service in 1981 as a firefighter for the Shreveport, La., Fire Department. He was promoted to fire training officer and served in this capacity from 1985 to 1990, when he became assistant chief training officer. He was appointed the Department's fire chief on August 26, 1999.
On January 2, 2008, Chief Cochran was tapped by Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin to serve as Fire Chief for the City of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department. He served in that capacity until July 2009, when President Barack Obama appointed him as U.S. Fire Administrator for the United States Fire Administration in Washington, D.C. In that capacity, Chief Cochran was charged with overseeing, coordinating, and directing national efforts to prevent fires and improve fire response. He worked extensively with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
On May 8, 2010, Chief Cochran returned to Atlanta to resume the position of fire chief. His nomination was unanimously confirmed by the Atlanta City Council on August 16, 2010.
Chief Cochran has more than 28 years of fire service experience with involvement in all phases of the profession: fire fighting, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, recruiting, public education, research and development, employee counseling, discipline, performance evaluation, and administration, with specialization in training and strategic planning/facilitating. He has held positions with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), serving on the board of directors as first vice president in 2007 and second vice president in 2006. He is also a past chair of the IAFC Program Planning Committee and President of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association. Chief Cochran is a member of the IAFC; the IAFC Southeastern Division; the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section; the Georgia Fire Chiefs Association and Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association.
He authored two chapters -- Chapter 1, "Leadership and Management," and Chapter 25, "The Fire Chief of the Future," for the Chief Fire Officers Desk Reference, published by Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Deputy Chief Wilmond Meadows
The Office of Support Services has direct responsibility for the Offices of Professional Standards, Public Relations, Homeland Security, Capital Projects and Assessment & Planning. The Office also manages the budget of the Fire Chief's Office and chairs the AFRD Disciplinary Review Board.
Chief Meadows is an Atlanta native who joined the Department in 1985 after
after graduating from West Fulton High School. He has held the ranks of firefighter, Fire-Medic, Fire Apparatus Operator, Fire Lieutenant, Paramedic Lieutenant, Operations Captain, Training Captain, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief, and, since 2005, Deputy Chief.
Wilmond Meadows
Chief of Staff
Officer Designation credentialing from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, MIFireE from the Institution of Engineers, Chief Medical Officer credentialing from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, and Executive Development Institute at Dillard University.
Chief Meadows is a member of the Society of Human Resources Managers, the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, International City/County Management Association, Georgia Fire Chief's Association and National Association of Fire Chiefs. He has served on the Boards of Directors for the Heartburn Foundation and the City of Atlanta Friendship Club. Active in his community, he has coached Little League baseball, and youth football and basketball.
Deputy Chief Michael Simmons
The Office of Technical Services monitors Emergency Medical Services, and the Fire Code Enforcement, Fire Inspections, Fire Safety Education, and Fire Investigations sections. The division includes the Fire Marshal's Office, Fire Prevention and Education, Training, Communications and Information Technology, Human Resources, Finance, Recruitment, Member Services, and maintenance of all real property and administration.
Deputy Chief Michael Simmons began his career with AFR in 1988 after graduating with degrees from Harper College in Palatine, Ill., (associate's); Georgia State University (bachelor's); and Columbus State University (master's in public administration.
Michael Simmons
Office of Support Services
He was promoted to Fire Apparatus Operator as a sergeant in June 1993, to Fire Lieutenant in October 1997, to Fire Captain in October 2001 and to Battalion Chief in February 2007. He became Assistant Chief for Support Services in May 2010 and Deputy Chief for Technical Services in July 2012.Chief Simmons earned an Award of Merit in October 2000; the Governor's Public Safety Award in November 2000; a Professional Service Award in March 2009; and a Professional Leadership Award in October 2012.
Deputy Chief Michael Simmons
The Office of Technical Services monitors Emergency Medical Services, and the Fire Code Enforcement, Fire Inspections, Fire Safety Education, and Fire Investigations sections. The division includes the Fire Marshal's Office, Fire Prevention and Education, Training, Communications and Information Technology, Human Resources, Finance, Recruitment, Member Services, and maintenance of all real property and administration.
Deputy Chief Michael Simmons began his career with AFR in 1988 after graduating with degrees from Harper College in Palatine, Ill., (associate's); Georgia State University (bachelor's); and Columbus State University (master's in public administration.
Deputy Chief Randall B. Slaughter
The Office of Field Operations is responsible 30 fire stations throughout Atlanta and their response to and mitigation of disasters in the City. The agency handles an average of 125 incidents per day including rescues, fires, hazardous materials calls, emergency medical services and homeland security responses/planning.
The Office also handles the planning of special events.
Chief Slaughter began his career with Atlanta Fire Rescue in November 1990. He served as a firefighter/EMT before being promoted to Fire Medic I in 1993, Fire Apparatus Operator in 1995, Fire Lieutenant in 1998, Captain in 2000, Battalion Chief in 2004, Assistant Chief in 2005 and Deputy Chief in 2010.
Randall B. Slaughter
Office of Field Operations
Deputy Chief Joel G. Baker
The mission of Airport Operations is to provide unparalleled fire protection, emergency medical and other emergency services to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The division's infrastructure includes 232 fire personnel (217 sworn and 15 civilian personnel), five fire stations, 49 front line response vehicles (aircraft and structural and six auxiliary response vehicles. It is responsible for protecting the "World's Busiest Airport" which hosts an average of 200,000 passengers per day.
The airport division provides aircraft and structural fire response, emergency medical services, including advanced Cardiac Life Support and transport, and hazardous materials response and mitigation.The division has its own training, inspections and administration sections separate from AFRD. It also operates and manages the largest automatic defibrillator program in the country.
Joel G. Baker
Office of Airport Operations
Deputy Chief Joel Baker began his professional fire service career in 1986 with the City of East Point, Georgia, after serving with the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Navy Reserve during the Iraqi Enduing Freedom campaign.
He joined the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department in 1988 and, in the 25 years since, he has held the following positions: firefighter/paramedic, Lieutenant in Field Operations and the Atlanta Fire Training Academy, Captain in the Hazardous Material/Technical Rescue Unit, Section Chief in the Office of Professional Standards and Assistant Chief in the Office of Support Services. In August 2009, Chief Baker was appointed interim Fire Chief, where he made crucial decisions regarding employment reduction, station decommissioning consideration and challenged morale. Chief Baker also served as Chief of Staff. Chief Baker's educational background includes an associate's degree in applied sciences in Fire Science Technology, a bachelor's in human resource and policy studies from Georgia State University; and a master's in public administration from Columbus State University. He has been recognized by the Commission on Professional Credentialing with his second Chief Fire Officer Designation, awarded to those who demonstrate a high level or competence as judged by their peers. He also earned a designation as an Executive Fire Officer from the National Fire Academy.
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