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| The IAFC has strongly endorsed Kelvin Cochran's nomination for U.S. Fire Administrator |
IAFC strongly endorses Cochran's nomination
The IAFC has endorsed the nomination of Chief Kelvin Cochran to be U.S. Fire Administrator and has called on the Senate to move quickly to confirm him once hearings begin in August as anticipated.
On July 17, IAFC President Chief Larry Grorud wrote to Senators Joseph Lieberman (I/D-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME), the chairman and the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, respectively, to "strongly endorse" Chief Cochran's nomination to be the U.S Fire Administrator. Chief Grorud urged the Senate to "quickly confirm Chief Cochran to this position."
In the letter Chief Grorud stated that "Chief Cochran is an experienced fire chief and emergency manager with 27 years of experience in responding to all hazards." The letter cited Chief Cochran's experience as the fire chief of both Atlanta, Georgia, and Shreveport, Louisiana, and his leadership positions with the IAFC and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association. It also described Chief Cochran's role in helping Shreveport respond to Hurricane Katrina and its sheltering of evacuees, and his role in rebuilding the New Orleans Fire Department.
Chief Cochran is well-respected by America's first responders for his visionary leadership and record of achievement, Chief Grorud noted. He has given many lectures on leadership and emergency response, and he strongly advocates firefighter safety. During Chief Cochran's 10 years as fire chief with Shreveport, the department had no major injuries or line-of-duty deaths. He also has demonstrated his strong support for education and succession planning and its role at the U.S. Fire Administration.
In addition, Chief Cochran brings a breadth of knowledge about federal grant programs, such as the Assistance to Firefighters and SAFER grant programs, the Urban Areas Security Initiative grant program, and the Homeland Security Grant Program.
