Kelvin J. Cochran

Kelvin J. Cochran
U.S. Fire Administrator
In office
January 1, 2009 – May 8, 2010
Preceded by Gregory B. Cade
Succeeded by Glenn A. Gaines
Fire Chief, Atlanta Fire Department, Atlanta, Georgia
In office
August 16, 2010 – January 6, 2015
Preceded by Joel G. Baker
Succeeded by Joel G. Baker
(Named Interim Chief)
Personal details
Born January 23, 1960
Shreveport, Louisiana
Parents George and Jane Houston Cochran
Residence Atlanta, Georgia
Occupation Fire Chief; Author
Religion Baptist

Kelvin J. Cochran is an author, public speaker, former Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, and former Fire Chief of Atlanta Fire Department.

Early life

Mr. Cochran was first hired by Shreveport Fire Department in 1981 serving as a trainer and assistant fire chief. Mayor Keith Hightower later appointed him the first African-American fire chief of Shreveport, Louisiana August 26, 1999. He helped the New Orleans Fire Department in 2005 in response to Hurricane Katrina[1] and went on to serve positions in the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) from 2006 to 2007.[2]

He worked under mayor Kasim Reed starting January 2, 2008 for Atlanta Fire Department, prior to being appointed US Fire Administrator in July 2008 by President Barack Obama where he worked extensively with FEMA and DHS to prevent fires and improve fire response. He maintained this role until returning to Atlanta on May 8, 2010 and being re-appointed as Fire Chief of Atlanta Fire Department August 16, 2010.[3]

Termination

Kevin Cochran made national headlines when he was suspended 30 days without pay starting November 24, 2014 after allegedly discriminating homosexuals in his self-published religious book “Who Told You That You Were Naked?”.[4] On January 6, 2015 after returning from the suspension, he was informed that he would have to resign or be terminated.[5][6]

A rally was held in Atlanta, Georgia January 13, 2015 in support of Cochran, with various leaders of faith attending including Bishop Wellington Boone, president of the Fellowship of International Churches.[7]

Various groups including NOM,[8] AFA,[9] and FRC[10] have started petitions asking for his reinstatement as Fire Chief. Currently Deputy Chief Joel Baker has replaced Cochran as the active fire chief of Atlanta Fire Department.[11]

On February 18, 2015, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of Mr. Cochran by Alliance Defending Freedom and over 2,500 private attorneys on grounds of religious discrimination against the City of Atlanta, Georgia. The case Cochran v. City of Atlanta is in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division.[12][13] On March 25, 2015 the City of Atlanta filed a brief to U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May asking for the case to be dismissed, however Cochran's lawyers say that their response fell short. [14]

Bibliography

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Meet the Chief: Kelvin Cochran, Atlanta Fire Department". FireRescue1. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  2. ↑ Oral History Project - Civil Rights; Kelvin J. Cochran
  3. ↑ Atlanta.gov Fire Department Members,Archive Courtesy Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "Atlanta fire chief suspended after distributing his religious book to employees". Washington Post. November 26, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Fire chief defends his stance on homosexuality". Times-Herald. January 7, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Fire chief fired after gay comments in book". USA Today. January 7, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Rally backs fired Atlanta fire chief whose book has anti-gay comments". CNN. January 13, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Urge Mayor to Reinstate Fire Chief Ousted for Expressing Faith". NOM. January 7, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Stand with Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran". AFA. January 8, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Stand with the Christian Fire Chief fired for his faith". FRC. January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Atlanta Chief Cochran Suspended After Penning Book Condemning Homosexuality". Firehouse. November 24, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Former Atlanta fire chief sues over his firing". Times-Herald. February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Memo to Atlanta's Mayor: Reinstate Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran". Fox News. February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  14. ↑ Wetzstein, Cheryl (March 26, 2015). "Ex-Atlanta Fire Chief Cochran didn’t get written permission to write religious book: City lawyers - Attorneys seek dismissal of his wrongful-firing lawsuit". Washington Times. Retrieved March 27, 2015.

External links