LOS ANGELES — The office of the Los Angeles Mayor issued the following news release: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced the nomination of Interim Fire Chief Brian L. Cummings as the new Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Cummings, currently serving as interim Chief of the department, will assume the role of Chief upon confirmation by the City Council.
“With more than three decades of experience, Chief Cummings has proven himself as an innovative leader who can harness the strengths our world-class fire department and implement meaningful change,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “As the son of an LAFD pioneer, Chief Cummings’ long ties to the fire service are a key part of his commitment and devotion to this department and the City of Los Angeles.”
Mayor Villaraigosa announced Assistant Chief Brian Cummings as the Interim Fire Chief on July 7 following Chief Millage Peaks’ retirement after 35 years of service.
“I am honored and excited to accept the position as the 17th Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department,” said Interim Fire Chief Brian Cummings. “I look forward to working together with our talented men and women, sworn civilian and volunteers, as we provide world-class public safety and service for all the communities of Los Angeles.”
Interim Chief Brian Cummings is a 31-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department, with an exemplary record as a Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief and Chief of Staff.
Chief Cummings most recently served as Assistant Chief and as Chief of Staff to Fire Chief Millage Peaks where he assisted the Fire Chief in the planning and implementation of short and long-range goals of the Department. Cummings was the visionary architect responsible for developing a new deployment plan–the first of its kind in over 30 years–laying the groundwork for a more efficient and effective LAFD.
Chief Cummings joined the LAFD as a firefighter in February 1980, rising to Engineer and then earning promotions to Captain I in 1993 and Captain II in 2000.
In 2003, Chief Cummings took command of LAFD’s Battalion 13, managing five Fire Stations in South Los Angeles.
Chief Cummings assumed command of the Recruit Training Section of the Los Angeles Fire Department in 2005. During his tenure as the Recruit Training Officer, he was instrumental in the development of the Revised Recruit Training Program. He did this while managing training academies in the San Fernando Valley, Downtown Los Angeles, and San Pedro.
Chief Cummings took command of Battalion 6 in 2007 where he oversaw operations at nine Fire Stations and was responsible for fire protection at the Port of Los Angeles, three major refineries and a host of large commercial buildings. He served as the principal liaison to the United States Coast Guard, Port Authorities, the Chambers of Commerce, the shipping industry, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and the Long Beach Fire Department.
In 2010, Chief Cummings was assigned to the Planning Section of the Los Angeles Fire Department where he oversaw the Fire Chief’s staff and assisted with the management of the day-to-day functions of the department. As the Planning Chief, he coordinated research projects, staff studies and formulated the goals and objectives for the Department.
Chief Cummings was born and raised in Los Angeles. His father, Louis Cummings, was a 30-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department and his brother Lorenzo Armstead is a current LAFD Captain at Fire Station 79 in the Harbor area.
He graduated from Loyola High School and attended both West Los Angeles College and the University of California at Los Angeles.
He is married and is the father of two daughters.
For more about Chief Cummings, visit http://lafd.org/administration/97-lafd-administration/444-fire-chief-brian-cummings.
