FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brie Turek (407) 246-3106
Heather Allebaugh (407) 246-3423

MAYOR DYER ANNOUNCES SUCCESSION PLAN
FOR ORLANDO FIRE DEPARTMENT

ORLANDO, FL (Wednesday, September 13, 2006) – Today, Mayor Buddy Dyer announced the succession plan for the Orlando Fire Department (OFD).

Fire Chief Robert Bowman returned to the City three years ago to assist Mayor Dyer in addressing the fire department’s growth challenges and will transition from his current position effective September 25, 2006.

Mayor Dyer has appointed Deputy Chief Jim Reynolds, a third generation Orlando firefighter, as Fire Chief to oversee the day-to-day operations of the department and to provide counsel to the Mayor in matters of public safety and the maintenance of City fire protection. Reynolds has been a member of the Orlando Fire department for 22 years and has been serving as Deputy Chief for the last 3 years.

“With 25 years of in-depth experience in the public sector, focusing on the delivery of urban services, I’m confident that our highly-rated fire department is in extremely capable hands under the leadership of Chief Reynolds,” said Mayor Dyer.

Today, the Mayor also announced the appointments of two Deputy Chiefs to the Fire Department. Assistant Chief Mark Oakes who has served with the Orlando Fire Department for 18 years and Assistant Chief Rudy Johnson with 19 years of service to the City of Orlando, have been elevated from their current role to serve as Deputy Chiefs and assist in the leadership of the department. Additionally, Deputy Chief Kathy Miller who has been with the Orlando Fire Department for 25 years will continue to be a key member of OFD leadership.

Chief Bowman, a veteran public administrator, will remain a key member of the Dyer administration. Bowman will provide municipal expertise and counsel on strategic planning and growth management issues for the City of Orlando. He will focus on the effective and efficient delivery of urban services, public safety and growth management issues.

“As our City experiences unprecedented growth, it is essential that the City focus efforts to serve our citizens and visitors, providing quality urban services,” said Mayor Dyer. “Chief Bowman brings more than 25 years of experience as a public safety expert with vast institutional knowledge.”

Additionally, as a continuum to Mayor Dyer’s recently announced 3-year Public Safety initiative, Bowman will work with the City to guide the implementation of this multi-year funding effort to maintain the City’s focus on public safety.

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