Jeanine Nicholson is the chief of the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD). She began her career with the SFFD in 1994 as a firefighter EMT. Nicholson promoted through the ranks of firefighter paramedic, lieutenant, captain and battalion chief. In 2018, she was appointed deputy chief of administration and oversaw numerous divisions. Nicholson is a member of the California Fire Chiefs Association and California Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association and sits on the board of directors of Firescope (Firefighting Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies). She is a breast cancer survivor and served on the board of the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation. Nicholson holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from Colgate University. Under her leadership, SFFD’s Street Crisis Response Team and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Office came about.