Former Seattle Fire Chief, Gregory Dean, Named New Fire EMS Chief

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser named Gregory M. Dean as Chief of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS).

“The safety and well-being of District residents is my top priority and FEMS is at the frontlines of this effort. Chief Dean is a proven, collaborative leader who led a department with an international reputation for its fire-based EMS performance. I am certain that he will work with our emergency first responders and the community to move the department forward in exciting ways,” said Mayor Bowser.

“I look forward to working with Mayor Bowser and FEMS providers to deliver efficient and compassionate fire and emergency medical services to the residents in all eight Wards,” said Dean. “We will build on the Department’s strengths and bring a data driven approach that will ensure we are delivering top-notch services 24/7.”

Dean previously served for 10 years as the Fire EMS chief for Seattle, Washington, where he led the administrative and operational functions of a team of 1,150 employees with a $175 million budget. He brings homeland security expertise and a reputation for working well with residents, labor and other stakeholders.

Dean has a proven track record of results. Under his leadership, Seattle and King County, Washington announced in 2014 that its overall cardiac arrest survival rate had reached an all- time high of 62 percent, up from 26 percent in 2002.

Dean is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee. He has served as chair of the Region 6, Homeland Security Administration and Policy Group and was selected for the Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s Master’s Program at the Naval Post Graduate School.

Acting Assistant Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief Edward R. Mills III will serve as Interim Chief during the transition.”