Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: April 16, 2025
TO:
Commissioner Nicole Wilson, District 1
Commissioner Christine Moore, District 2
Commissioner Mayra Uribe, District 3
Commissioner Maribel Gomez Cordero, District 4
Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad, District 5
Commissioner Michael "Mike" Scott, District 6
SUBJECT:
Managerial Appointment - Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Rescue Department (OCFRD)
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Confirmation of the Mayor's managerial appointment of Deputy Chief Anthony Rios as Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Rescue Department.
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PURPOSE: I am pleased to announce the appointment of Anthony Rios as the next Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Rescue Department (OCFRD). Deputy Chief Rios is a 24-year veteran of the department, having started his service in November 2000 as a Firefighter/Paramedic. Deputy Chief Rios has served multiple positions and ranks in the organization over the past two decades, including field operations and executive administrative functions. Most recently, Chief Rios has served as the department’s Deputy Fire Chief of Administration, where he assisted Fire Chief James Fitzgerald in the management and oversight of the department’s 1600 personnel and an annual budget of over $450 million.
During his career in public safety, Deputy Chief Rios served as a sworn Corrections Officer and a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to Deputy Chief Rios’ lengthy service career, he has accomplished exemplary scholastic educational goals over the past two decades. Deputy Chief Rios holds a doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in Public Affairs, Public Administration and Policy, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida. He also earned a Executive Leadership in Public Policy Certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Deputy Chief Rios maintains a stellar reputation throughout the public safety executive community, and he is widely recognized for his professionalism, strength of character, and leadership qualities, each of which have helped us grow the Orange County Fire Rescue Department into the organization it is today. I am confident Deputy Chief Rios will fulfill his role as the department’s Fire Chief with the same level of professionalism and commitment to serving others that have exemplified his career.
Deputy Chief Rios will assume his new role as Fire Chief, effective June 27, 2025, with an annual salary of $212,950. His resume is attached for your reference.