November 27, 2019
Chief Deanna McDevitt became the first-ever BFD woman promoted to the position of district chief. She is shown above with her family, Mayor Walsh and Chief Finn. Mayor’s Office photos by John Wilcox
Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Fire Department (BFD) last Thursday celebrated the promotions of ten firefighters from all ranks of the force during a ceremony at Florian Hall. The command assignments included a new chief of Operations & Field Services, a chief of Operations Support & Services, two deputy chiefs, two district chiefs, two captains, and two lieutenants.
Commissioner Joseph Finn announced the moves to a room full of about 200 family, friends and employees.
Two of the promotions were firsts for the BFD. With their appointments, Andre R. Stallworth, a 28-year veteran, became the first-ever African-American promoted to the rank of chief of operations for support services, and Deanna McDevitt became the first-ever BFD woman promoted to the position of district chief.
Family members of newly promoted Chief of Operations Andre R. Stallworth pinned him during a ceremony at Florian Hall last Thursday.
“It’s truly a great and historic day for us in the Boston Fire Department,” said Finn. “Chief Andre Stallworth was the first African-American chief promoted to deputy and will be making history today as the first African-American chief of operations in the BFD.”
Other promotions included: Robert J. Calobrisi to chief of operations in charge of field services; as commanders, he and Stallworth will work directly under Finn; deputy chiefs James P. Greene and Brian P. Tully; district chief Dennis P. Delvin; captains Keith M. Kelly and Brian H. Hartigan; and lieutenants Keith M. Wilson and Nicholas B. Bonaceto.
Walsh said that the city is taking steps to reflect the diversity of its population and workforce. “Our city has become more diverse; 50 percent of the people that live in our city are people of color, and 52 percent of households in our city are led by women,” he noted. “We’re looking to reflect that diversity in our public safety workforce.”
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