Deputy Fire Chief, ARFF, Aviation Department, JFK Airport
Listed on 2026-06-27
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Management
Emergency Crisis Mgmt/ Disaster Relief, Operations Manager, Program / Project Manager -
Government
Emergency Crisis Mgmt/ Disaster Relief, Operations Manager
Description About the Role
The Deputy Fire Chief, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), serves as a senior fire service officer responsible for the command and control of emergency operations and the maintenance of continuous operational readiness within a 24/7 aviation environment.
This position is a dual‑function fire service role, combining primary operational emergency command responsibilities with administrative oversight necessary to sustain firefighting readiness, regulatory compliance, and life safety operations.
The Deputy Fire Chief is operationally integrated into front‑line ARFF response and is required to respond to and command emergency incidents involving aircraft emergencies, structural fires, hazardous materials, and other high‑risk events.
Administrative functions performed within this role are executed in direct support of operational effectiveness, emergency preparedness, and regulatory compliance, and are subordinate to the primary mission of emergency response.
The Deputy Chief reports directly to the ARFF Chief of Department within the Department of Aviation. The ARFF Deputy Chief provides direct supervision and leadership to the local ARFF Battalion Chief, ARFF Police Sergeants, ARFF Police Officer, and administrative personnel. This role ensures operational coordination across fire, police, and administrative functions, maintains regulatory compliance, and supports the ARFF Chief in strategic and day‑to‑day management of the division.
Responsibilities- Serves as the Commanding Officer of an assigned ARFF Command, exercising full‑scope operational authority over personnel, apparatus, and emergency response activities.
- Required to respond to emergency incidents and assume Incident Command or Unified Command leadership in a duty capacity.
- Directs real‑time operations involving aircraft rescue and firefighting, structural firefighting, hazardous materials mitigation, mass‑casualty incidents, airfield and aviation‑related emergencies.
- Exercises independent command judgment and decision‑making under high‑risk conditions impacting life safety, responder safety, airport operational continuity, regulatory compliance.
- Commands, coordinates, and integrates response operations with Port Authority Police, Airport Operations, Office of Emergency Management, mutual aid partners, local, state, and federal agencies.
- Maintains continuous operational readiness of ARFF personnel, equipment, and apparatus to meet FAA Part 139 performance requirements.
- Operates within a 24/7/365 emergency response framework, requiring availability for nights, weekends, and holidays; off‑hour emergency activations; severe weather operations; high‑profile and security‑sensitive events.
- Oversees staffing readiness, equipment readiness, deployment posture.
- Supervises and directs ARFF personnel, including Fire Officers, Crew Chiefs (Sergeants), ARFF Police Officers, support staff.
- Maintains discipline, accountability, and operational effectiveness necessary for emergency response.
- Manages personnel matters as they directly relate to operational readiness and performance, including staffing, training compliance, fitness for duty, response capability.
- Required to maintain active firefighting and incident command certifications.
- Ensures command and subordinate personnel maintain required certifications and readiness standards.
- Oversees and participates in emergency drills and timed response exercises, FAA compliance training, multi‑agency exercises.
- Maintenance of fire service certifications is a condition of employment and operational necessity of the position.
- Ensures compliance with FAA Part 139 Airport Certification standards, Airport Emergency Plan requirements, hazardous materials regulations (including Part 139.321), applicable NFPA standards.
- Develops and implements policies, procedures, and standard operating guidelines to ensure…
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