John W. Weeks was appointed as the 1st official Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department on May 8, 1885, when the City of Orlando organized and equipped its first volunteer fire companies: Orlando Hook and Ladder Company #1, and Orlando Hose Company #1. John was confirmed as Fire Chief in 1886 and was Fire Chief for three years.

In 1886, John Weeks and N. L. Mills provided the enthusiasm and energy that opened the first public agricultural display in Orlando. This agricultural building on Lake Eola was the germinal seed of today’s elaborate Central Florida Fair.

When John Weeks resigned as Fire Chief on April 14, 1888, he returned to his native Boston and became a Massachusetts Senator. Later he also served as Secretary of War in the Coolidge and Harding cabinets.

William C. Sherman became an official Fire Chief of the Orlando Fire Department sometime after 1888 and before 1893.  The available records do not indicate exactly when he took office, but clearly show that he was Fire Chief when Gettier won the election for office.  It is also a possibility that A. T. Gooding was Fire Chief before Sherman.

Sherman had come to Orlando from Boston in 1893, opening a jewelry store at Church Street and Boone. He had previously been a member of the Boston Fire Department.  After a downtown fire at Bassett's hat and dressmaking shop in which Mrs. Bassett's daughter was almost killed, Sherman organized the first volunteer fire department with the help of J. Walter Hosier in 1883.  There were 6 original members, and Sherman became their fire chief.  He is not considered the first fire chief, however, since this was a volunteer department.  He did not become an official fire chief until after Weeks resigned.
 

John W. Gettier was appointed the 3rd Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department on December 21, 1893. The records indicate that during a period of turmoil he resigned on May 12, 1896, but was apparently reinstated to serve until 1904.  Many historical accounts credit him with serving 15 years. All volunteer companies consolidated under "Mechanics Hose Company No. 1."

Gettier came to Orlando in 1885 from Baltimore and was associated with the Atlantic Coastline Railroad for 25 years.  He became their passenger agent for Plant City in 1904.  In 1906 he returned to Orlando until his death in 1913.  He was extremely public spirited and was active in many civic organizations. He was a member of the Masons, Knights of Pythias, very active in the YMCA, First Methodist Church, and many other local organizations.  He lived on the northwest corner of South Street and Garland Avenue, but his relatives were in the Lockhart area. 

He led OFD for 10 years, but available information is not precise for his administration.

William H. Matthews was appointed the 4th Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department on January 1, 1904.  (history also reports he was fire chief 1910-1921 and 1928-1929)

He owned a livery stable along with two saloons on the northwest corner of Church Street and Orange Avenue.  In 1907, a mysterious fire consumed his livery stable and both saloons and he resigned and moved to Tampa.

Though a memorial plaque at the Tampa Fire Department lists him as an Assistant Chief, records indicate he became Tampa Fire Chief in 1910 until succeeded by J. B. Holton in 1921.  After Holton retired, Mathews was again appointed Fire Chief in January of 1928.

On March 27, 1929 Mathews was killed while responding to an alarm. The fatal accident was the result of a collision between the Chief's Cadillac and an aerial truck at Florida Avenue and Cass Street in downtown Tampa.  According to reports, Mathews liked to stand up in the open touring car and this habit contributed to his death. 

He was actually Orlando's Fire Chief in its horse and wagon days and Tampa's Fire Chief in its more modern motorized department.

William Dean was appointed the 5th Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department in the year of 1908. 

Dean was born November 19, 1864, and came to Orlando at age 20.  He started working for R. L. Hyer at the livery stable and later for David Lockhart as fireman at the Orlando Novelty Works on West South Street. 

Gideon Dean was appointed the 6th Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department on 11-1-36, immediately after his father's retirement.  Gideon Dean had been trained by his father ever since he was large enough to climb a ladder and hold a garden hose.  He had been a member in good standing of the Orlando Volunteer Fire Department and was Secretary when it disbanded on 10-9-23.  He continued his fire service career with the fully paid Orlando Fire Department.

Maxie G. Bennett was appointed the 7th Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department in the year of 1940 after the death of Gideon Dean. 

Fire Chief Bennett was another native Orlandoan, who was the son of Robert M. Bennett, a retired street superintendent with 30 years service to the City.  Maxie was a graduate of Orlando High School and during World War I he served with the 101st Infantry Division in France. 

He held the office of Fire Chief for 9 years and was a past president of the Florida State Firemen's Association.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Elks Lodge, American Legion and 40 et 8.  He was also a member of the Florida State Fire Chiefs Association, Southeastern Fire Chiefs Association, Int'l Association of Fire Chiefs, and the National Fire Protection Association.

Paul Pennington was appointed the 8th Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department in the year of 1953. 

He was a slight, 128 lb, 18 year old youth when he was hired by the first full-time Fire Chief, William Dean, on February 1, 1927. 

His formal schooling stopped at 8th grade, but this determined man would receive his high school diploma in 1952, 25 years after he joined OFD and less than a year before he became Fire Chief. 

He became Fire Chief on January 1, 1953.  This appointment would begin the second longest term of office as fire chief of OFD.  He guided the department from a period of turmoil into the dawning light of fire service professionalism and continuing modernization. 

He established fire prevention as a priority and stressed campaigns to involve the citizens in fire prevention.  Many give him credit for establishing the basic fundamentals of the statistical systems used in the department today. 

During Pennington's administration, Orlando citizens experienced lower insurance rates when the National Board of Fire Underwriters dropped the City of Orlando's fire rating from class 4 to class 3.  Pennington retired after 42 years of service, which included 16 years as Fire Chief, retiring July 31, 1968  He was given the title "Fire Chief Emeritus of OFD." 

Melvin Rivenbark was appointed the 9th Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department in the year of 1968. 

Rivenbark had been Deputy Chief in the Pennington administration and was appointed to Fire Chief August 1, 1968 after Pennington retired.

He continued the traditions and progressive modernization of Pennington's administration.  Orlando's first strong sprinkler ordinance was drafted and implemented.  Firehouses #3, #7, #8, #9, and #10 were built.  Just two months prior to Rivenbark's appointment, African-Americans were permitted employment on OFD.  This administration was the first to have any African-Americans among the ranks. During his administration, diesel engines replaced gasoline engines and the department became unionized.

Rivenbark is described as a very religious, firm, fair, and honest man who had two sons, Melvin R. and Daniel J., who also were members of OFD.

Charles S. Parker was appointed the 10th Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department October 1, 1973.  He had been the Deputy Fire Chief in the Rivenbark administration before being appointed by Mayor Carl Langford.

F. E. "Gene" Reynolds was appointed the 11th Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department in the year of 1977. 

Francis E. "Gene" Reynolds was born on 5-2-29 and was hired by OFD on January 1, 1954 and was eventually appointed Fire Chief of OFD on 7-9-77.  He had been Assistant Chief in the Administrative Services Bureau in the Parker Administration.

Under his administration OFD Reynolds guided the department into the Emergency Medical Services field. He employed the first female firefighters in OFD history and established an Affirmative Action Section. He established a joint response agreement with Orange County Fire Departments and the Data Processing Section and computer terminals in various work stations in administration and firehouses.

The National Fire Incident Reporting System was implemented, as well. as adopting the State Fire Prevention Code.

Chief Reynolds also introduced specialty trucks such as the Hazmat Van, Dive Rescue Van, Woods trucks, introduced 5 new Rescue Trucks with 2 additional reserve Rescue units and purchased its first mini Tower. Flood lights were installed on all engines. He changed the red color of all fire apparatus to red and white combination.

Charlie Lewis was appointed the 12th Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department July 1, 1989. Lewis joined the Orlando Fire Department on May 23, 1967.

OFD started a major wellness program for all OFD employees. In order to enhance the entry level supervision within the department.

 OFD became one of the first departments of its size to offer Advanced Life Support (ALS) coverage from every firehouse in the City.

 OFD started an officer candidate school taught by some of the leading fire service experts in the nation.

 Chief Lewis instituted an Emergency Medical Dispatcher system.

 In the area of affirmative action, OFD promoted its first black Assistant Chief and also hired its first black female firefighter.

Robert A. Bowman was appointed the 13th Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department in the year of 1993. 

Robert Bowman joined the Orlando Fire Department in February of 1971, after serving as a volunteer and professional firefighter in Maryland.  During his 25 years with OFD he was promoted to Engineer in 1974, Lieutenant in 1979, District Chief in 1985, and Deputy Chief in March of 1989.  Mayor Glenda Hood appointed him Fire Chief in January of 1993 and he served for three years until May 31, 1996.

Donald W. Harkins was appointed the 14^th Fire Chief on July 8, 1996. Chief Harkins was born and raised in Orlando, attended local schools, and graduated from both VCC and UCF, earning degrees in Fire Technology and Public Administration. His brother, Bob Harkins, retired with 25 years with OFD in 1999.

 Chief Harkins worked for fire departments in the Central Florida area, eventually becoming Assistant Chief for the Orange County Fire Department. In 1984, he became Fire Chief for the Gainesville Fire Department, where he served for almost nine years. In 1993, he was hired by the City of Fort Lauderdale as their Fire Chief. He was responsible for not only fire-rescue services but also building and zoning, occupational licensing, code enforcement, and citywide emergency management.  

Charlie B. Walker was appointed the 15th Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department in January, 2000. 

Chief Walker became the first African-American to head the Orlando Fire Department in its 115-year history.

Chief Walker was a Jones High School graduate and a 28-year veteran of the department.  Walker started his firefighting career in 1966, when he entered the Air Force and found himself in the Fire Service Unit.  Upon his return to civilian life 4 years later, he decided to fall back on his military skills and apply for a job with OFD.  He was hired in 1971. In 1981, he became the first black Lieutenant in the Orlando Fire Department.

He received his A.S. Degree in Fire Technology from Valencia Community College and earned a B.S. Degree in Fire Safety Administration from Rollins College.

Robert A. Bowman was appointed the 16th Fire Chief for the City of Orlando Fire Department in the year of 2003. He was requested to come back and serve as Chief by Mayor Buddy Dyer, 7 years after he served as the 13th Fire Chief.