(Washington, DC) More than 250 people witnessed history in the making as Mayor Adrian M. Fenty administered the oath of office to Dennis L. Rubin, the city’s new Chief of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department. Rubin, 54, accepted the oath in a swearing-in ceremony held at the North Hall of Eastern Market. The historic Capitol Hill landmark was badly damaged during a three-alarm blaze on April 30, but firefighters saved the North Hall section and the building's brick walls. Rubin said that Eastern Market is symbolic of the Department’s commitment to protecting and preserving the city’s people and property.
Rubin’s son, Dennis Rubin II, held the Bible as his father raised his left hand and recited the oath. The Department’s four assistant chiefs, Brian K. Lee, Policy; Lawrence Schultz, Operations; Thomas Herlihy, Services; and Dr. Michael Williams, Medical Director, also took the oath of office from Mayor Fenty.
Rubin is the Department’s 25th agency head. He first joined the Department as a line firefighter 35 years ago. On April 16, 2007, Mayor Fenty appointed Rubin Chief of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, and the DC City Council confirmed his nomination by unanimous vote on May 1, 2007.
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