The Obama Administration on Tuesday nominated Ernest Mitchell Jr. as head of the USFA.
Mitchell's nomination as U.S. Fire Administrator comes after a long career in the fire service.
He served as fire chief and assistant director of disaster emergency services for the Pasadena, Calif. Fire Department from 1998 to 2004 before retiring.
He previously served as fire chief and deputy city manager in Monrovia, Calf. and also served as battalion chief in Compton, Calif.
Mitchell also served as president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs in 2003.
If confirmed, Mitchell would take over the reins from Glenn Gaines, who has been Acting Administrator since Kelvin Cochran stepped down in 2010 to return to his previous position as Atlanta's fire chief.