Mayor Michelle Wu has appointed Dorchester native Rodney Marshall, a longtime Boston Fire Department veteran, as the 45th Commissioner and Chief of the Boston Fire Department.
Marshall joined the department in 1991 and currently serves as Chief of Operations, Support Services. He will assume the role upon being sworn in later this month.
Wu described Marshall as a highly experienced and respected leader within the department, citing his decades of service and deep ties to Boston. She also thanked outgoing Commissioner Paul Burke for his leadership over the past nearly four years.
Marshall said he was honored by the appointment and highlighted his upbringing in Dorchester, noting his commitment to the communities where he grew up and began his public service career.
“As a proud son of Dorchester, I joined the Boston Fire Department because I wanted to give back to the communities where I grew up, and I’m committed to supporting the firefighters and staff who work every day to keep Boston’s neighborhoods safe,” stated Marshall.
Burke supported the appointment, referencing his close working relationship with Marshall and calling him well prepared for the role.
Marshall began his career at Engine 56 and rose through the ranks, becoming a Fire Lieutenant in 1998. That same year, he received a Commissioner’s Unit Citation for rescuing multiple residents during a six-alarm fire. He was promoted to Fire Captain in 2005 and received a second citation in 2013 following a rescue involving passengers trapped in a severely damaged bus.
He became District Fire Chief in 2014 and Deputy Fire Chief in 2022, later serving as Chief of Operations, Support Services. He also helped develop and launch the department’s Cadet Program, designed to expand pathways into firefighting careers for young residents.
Marshall was born and raised in Grove Hall in Dorchester and is a graduate of Boston College.
