San Francisco Deputy Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson, a 25-year veteran of the department, was named by Mayor London Breed on Wednesday as the city’s new fire chief.
Nicholson will be the city’s first LGBT fire chief in San Francisco and the second woman to serve in the position, following her immediate predecessor Joanne Hayes-White, who announced in October that she was retiring.
Breed made the announcement at a ceremony at City Hall on Wednesday morning, noting that Nicholson has suffered second-degree burns at an arson fire in 2009 as well as being a breast cancer survivor.
“This woman is tough, this woman is resilient, this woman is a leader,” Breed said.
Nicholson currently serves as deputy chief of administration and has been a firefighter, paramedic, lieutenant, captain and battalion chief.
The new fire chief said she was “honored and humbled” to be selected as the new chief.
Nicholson will work with Hayes-White on a transition plan in the coming weeks, according to the mayor’s office.