Deegan reappoints Keith Powers as JFRD fire chief, creates leadership pipeline for succession

Hanna Holthaus, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
Updated ·3 min read

Keith Powers will continue as Jacksonville Fire Department director and fire chief, Mayor Donna Deegan announced Thursday.

Deegan made a slew of JFRD appointments, including to three new positions, but highly stressed the importance of the new leadership development program to be implemented throughout city departments.

The program will help provide new and diverse candidates with the resources necessary to grow and be successful in their offices, Deegan said, and make leadership more closely resemble Jacksonville.

“It's about a larger vision,” Deegan said. “We have put in place a succession plan to create a pipeline that brings diverse talent to the top of the department. These changes will ensure that we continue to have the very best fire department in the country for years to come.”

Powers appointed as fire chief: Jacksonville makes fire chief official

The new leadership appointments bring JFRD closer to representing the demographics of the city, Deegan said, with the executive team being 38% Black, 6% Asian, 6% Hispanic and 50% white.

The leadership pipeline program will be implemented across city offices, Deegan said, and will help bring more diverse candidates up the career ladder across the city by providing mentor and training opportunities.

The city will also offer expanded educational opportunities, including reimbursement for college degrees and the cost of necessary certification courses.

“We have an excellent leadership team right now,” Deegan said. “Let them help us train the next generation of leaders for our department. I think that’s a win-win for all of us.”

Powers will continue as chief for an undetermined amount of time, but the program will help others learn from his leadership to replace him sometime within the remainder of Deegan’s term, she said.

Powers joined the JFRD in 1996 after working in Nassau County. He worked as captain of JFRD’s tactical support facility from 2013 to 2015 and became division chief of operations in 2015.

Mayor Lenny Curry appointed Powers as interim fire chief in 2019 after then-Chief Kurtis Wilson retired.

“This department changed my life,” Powers said at Thursday’s announcement.

“The leadership team that the mayor has chosen to put forward to bring JFRD into the future is amazing.”

Here are the reappointments Deegan announced:

  • Chief Keith Powers as fire chief

  • Steve Riska as division chief of operations

  • Jake Blanton as division chief of rescue

  • Daniel Guthrie as deputy division chief of rescue

  • Kevin Jones as division chief of fire prevention

  • Andre Ayoub as the division chief of emergency preparedness after being confirmed earlier this year

Here are the new appointments:

  • Willie King as deputy fire chief

  • Chris Scott as deputy division chief of operations

  • Teresa Kinstle as division chief of training

  • Austin Gambill as deputy division chief of training

  • Renaldo Horn as chief of recruiting

  • Allen Mason as deputy division chief of fire prevention

  • Percy Golden, Jr. as deputy division chief of emergency preparedness

  • Mike Lesniak as division chief of administrative services

  • Terrance Holmes as deputy division chief of administrative services

  • Berlinda Tookes as assistant chief of EEO/ethics

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Powers tapped to head JFRD, Deegan creates pipeline for diverse leadership