Retiring EMS chief becomes second female fire commissioner, first with 31-year department record
Experience from the Front Lines Moves to Leadership
On December 23, 2025, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced the appointment of Lillian Bonsignore as the next commissioner of the New York City Fire Department. Bonsignore, a thirty-one-year FDNY veteran who led the department’s emergency medical services through the COVID-19 pandemic, will oversee approximately eleven thousand uniformed firefighters, thousands of EMTs, and hundreds of civilian employees. The appointment marks a significant moment for the department and the city’s emergency response system. Bonsignore’s career trajectory from frontline EMT to chief of EMS operations to fire commissioner reflects a leadership philosophy rooted in direct experience with emergency response challenges.
A Record of Leading Through Crisis
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bonsignore served as chief of EMS operations, managing the department’s response to unprecedented surge demands. She was elevated to the rank of deputy assistant chief, achieving the highest-ranking uniformed position for a woman in FDNY history. Her promotion to the EMS Academy at Fort Totten in 2016 and subsequent leadership roles positioned her as a bridge between frontline responders and administrative decision-makers. Bonsignore will become the second female fire commissioner in FDNY history, following Laura Kavanagh. More significantly, she will be the first woman to achieve a four-star rank in the department. Kavanagh herself praised Bonsignore’s selection, noting her deep understanding of the FDNY’s B-HEARD program, which dispatches mental health care workers to certain 911 calls. Mamdani has expressed support for this innovative approach to public safety that recognizes mental health dimensions of emergency response.
Leadership Selection Reflects Broader Public Safety Vision
The timing of Bonsignore’s appointment is notable. Outgoing FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker submitted his resignation the day after Mamdani’s election, citing ideological differences. The mayor-elect moved quickly to announce his own appointment an hour before outgoing Mayor Eric Adams swore in Mark Guerra as interim commissioner. This sequence demonstrates Mamdani’s intention to move decisively on public safety leadership. The appointment of Bonsignore signals several priorities. First, it reflects commitment to advancing women in senior municipal positions. Second, it demonstrates respect for institutional knowledge and frontline experience. Third, it suggests that the incoming administration values emergency responders’ perspectives in shaping public safety policy.
What Emergency Response Leadership Means for NYC
To understand best practices in fire department leadership, see FEMA’s resources on emergency management and response coordination. For insight into women in fire service leadership, consult the International Association of Fire Chiefs, which tracks trends in department leadership and personnel. To learn more about EMS innovation and mental health response integration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides research on integrated emergency response models. For additional context on public safety modernization, explore the National Institute of Justice’s research on policing and emergency services. Bonsignore’s appointment represents recognition that effective emergency response requires leaders who understand both operational realities and community needs. Her thirty-one years of service, pandemic-era decision-making experience, and commitment to programs like B-HEARD position her to guide the FDNY through an era of evolving public safety expectations. At a time when fire departments nationwide are rethinking response protocols and community engagement, Bonsignore’s background in EMS and mental health response coordination makes her selection particularly strategic.
