There’s a new chief in town.
Benjamin M. Barksdale Jr, was officially sworn in on Monday as the Chief of the Orlando Fire Department. In a time-honored tradition, the Change of Command Ceremony marked the public transition from one chief to the next.
Chief Barksdale is now the 20th Orlando Fire Chief.
With 32 years of experience under his belt, the City of Orlando found him in Maryland where he was serving as Chief in Prince George’s County.
Now he calls the City Beautiful home and is busy learning the culture and concerns from employees.
He’s visiting more than 50 fire stations and work locations to get to know all of his staff.
“If you were chief for the day, what is that one thing that you would fix about the Orlando Fire Department?” Barksdale said. “While there have been many different answers, there have been common themes and that’s what I’m listening for.”