Dennis L. Rubin |
ATLANTA -- Mayor Shirley Franklin announced that Dennis L. Rubin has been nominated as the new Fire Chief for the City of Atlanta, pending Council confirmation. Most recently, Rubin served as City Manager and Director of Public Safety for the City of Dothan, Alabama. As Dothan's Chief Operating Officer, Rubin oversaw the day-to-day operations of city government, managing a budget of over $125 million, with over 1,000 municipal workers.
Mayor Franklin says, “I am excited that Dennis Rubin is taking on the challenge of leading Atlanta's Fire Department. He brings a commitment to the City and a wealth of knowledge which will benefit us greatly. His experience serving as Fire Chief in Norfolk and Dothan, his 31 years of fire-rescue service in various Fire Departments and his management skills as Dothan's Chief Operating Officer were critical factors in his selection. I look forward to working with him to develop a strategic plan for the Fire Department and to ensure the men and women who serve Atlanta are the best-in class department in the nation."
Prior to becoming City Manager, Rubin completed 31 years of fire-rescue service. He has been a line firefighter, company grade officer and command level officer in the Washington, DC, Fairfax, Virginia, Mesa, Arizona, Dothan, Alabama and Norfolk, Virginia fire departments. In 1994, he served as the president of the State Fire Chiefs Association of Virginia. He serves on several committees with the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
Rubin's educational accomplishments include an Associate in Applied Science degree in Fire Science from the Northern Virginia Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Administration from the University of Maryland. He is currently enrolled in the Oklahoma State University Graduate School Fire and Emergency Management Program. He is a 1993 graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program. Rubin is a National Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) and has the Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFOD) presented by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Rubin has been an adjunct faculty member of the National Fire Academy since 1983 and has written over 130 technical articles published in national fire-rescue journals on fire department operations, administration, training and safety. Rubin is a contributing editor to Firehouse Magazine and has completed his first full length book entitled Rube's Rules for Fire Fighter Survival.
In accepting the appointment, Rubin said, “I am very pleased to be the nominee for Fire Chief for the City of Atlanta. It's a great personal and professional opportunity to serve the citizens of this great city. I look forward to working with the men and women that make up the Fire Department.”
Rubin's community involvement includes membership in various civic and service clubs. He was the recipient of the 1998 Dothan, Alabama Chamber of Commerce Leader of the Year Award. He is married and has three children.
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