June 29-- Ray Driskell was inaugurated Thursday as the Tulsa Fire Department's 11th chief, promising to keep firefighter safety as his top priority.
"I'm excited. I'm ready to go," he said.
A 27-year veteran of the Fire Department, Driskell was chosen May 2 by Mayor Dewey Bartlett to lead the department.
Driskell has been the acting fire chief for more than a month while Chief Allen LaCroix used his remaining vacation time before leaving the post at the start of the fiscal year -- July 1.
LaCroix and former Chiefs Stanley Hawkins and Tom Baker joined city leaders and firefighters for the ceremony Thursday to congratulate Driskell on the promotion and give him advice.
"Your job is to protect the city; not only the buildings in the city, but the finance of the city," LaCroix said, encouraging Driskell to be prudent and efficient in running the department.
Driskell joined the Tulsa Fire Department in January 1985 and worked his way up through the ranks, being promoted quickly to driver then district chief, finance director, fire marshal and deputy chief.
Driskell graduated from high school in Sand Springs in 1982 and received an associate's degree in fire protection technology from Tulsa Community College, a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from Southern Nazarene University and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma.
He is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program.
Bartlett said Driskell's experience and desire to improve are why he was selected to lead the Fire Department.
"I support this man 110 percent," the mayor said. "We are going to be very well-served by this man."
In outlining his goals as fire chief in an interview with the Tulsa World, Driskell said he will work to expand diversity in the department, promote continued relationships with community partners and ensure that the department uses city resources responsibly.
"We will do what we have to do to keep the city safe," he said. "We're going to continue to be a top-notch Fire Department for" the residents of Tulsa.
He said Thursday that part of that responsibility will be to make sure firefighters perform their inherently dangerous job as safely as possible.
He said he would promote a healthy department and one that puts safety first.
"We will continue the leadership and the training, and I will do everything I can to ensure we bring you home every night," Driskell told firefighters.
Driskell will preside over Friday's graduation of the latest Fire Academy, whose 23 cadets will become sworn members of the Fire Department.
The ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Southern Hills Country Club.
Jerry Wofford 918-581-8310
Copyright 2012 - Tulsa World, Okla.
