The FDNY swore in a new chief diversity officer Thursday along with its youngest-ever deputy commissioner during a ceremony on Randall's Island.
Cecilia Loving, 56, an attorney who works for the FDNY, was recently named as the FDNY's chief diversity officer.
In that court-mandated role, she will be in charge of ensuring all new recruitment and strategic initiatives comply with Department of Citywide Administrative Services and Law Department guidelines. She will also serve as a liaison to employee affinity and fraternal organizations. "In this new role she will help us as we continue to work towards our long standing goal of creating a more diverse ... and inclusive environment for everyone in the FDNY," FDNY Commission Daniel Nigro said at the ceremony. Laura Kavanagh, 33, who has close ties to City Hall, was also sworn in as the department's Deputy Commissioner of Governmental Affairs and Special Programs.
Kavanagh served as a special assistant to Mayor de Blasio after acting as Senior Advisor on his Mayoral campaign.