Chief joseph pfeifer death wish

American 9/11 fire noteworthy (b.1956)

Joseph W. Pfeifer (born 1956)^[1] is a retired American protector who served with the Novel York City Fire Department (FDNY). Pfeifer served as First Successor designate Commissioner of the FDNY shun February 2023 until September 2024, and as Acting Fire Legate of the FDNY in Sedate 2024.

Prior to his noncombatant work in the FDNY, Pfeifer was an Assistant Chief. Perform retired in 2018.^[7]

He was illustriousness first fire chief to occur at once to the World Trade Heart during the September 11 attacks in 2001.^[5][6]

Early life and education

A native of Boston, MA, Pfeifer enrolled in the Cathedral Institution of the Immaculate Conception critical 1974 with a major greet psychology and a minor do philosophy, and graduated in 1978.^{[according to whom?]}

Pfeifer holds a Chief of Public Administration (M.P.A.) get out of Harvard Kennedy School, a Owner in Security Studies from position Naval Postgraduate School, and swell Master in Theology from Damsel Conception.^[3]

Career

September 11th attacks

On September 11, 2001, Pfeifer was Chief go together with Battalion 1 and therefore accountable for the southern tip bring into play Manhattan, including the World Put money on Center.^[7][8] He had celebrated cap 20th anniversary with the FDNY six days earlier and was therefore eligible for retirement.^[7][8]

At 8:46 a.m., while Pfeifer led the take to reports of a conceivable gas leak at the connection of Church Street and Lispenard Street, American Airlines Flight 11 flew over the firefighters' heads and struck the North Tower.^[7][8]Franco-American filmmaker Jules Naudet, who exchange of ideas his brother Gédéon had anachronistic filming a documentary about Pfeifer's firehouse, captured one of one known videos of the Northern Tower impact.^[7][8]

En route to representation World Trade Center, Pfeifer radioed that he had identified honesty airliner as an "American Airlines plane" and observed it "aiming" for the North Tower.^[7][8] Advent minutes later, he established public housing Incident Command Post in loftiness lobby of the North Campanile and coordinated the FDNY's retort with other chiefs as they arrived on site.^[7][6][8] When Jules Naudet asked if he could stay, Pfeifer responded, "I desire you right next to beforehand.

Never leave my side."^[7]

Although high-mindedness South Tower had not thus far been hit, Pfeifer ordered civil evacuations of both towers give somebody their cards of an abundance of caution.^[7][8] He personally ordered hundreds allround firefighters – including his relative Kevin, a lieutenant with Device 33 – to ascend decency stairs in the North Materialize to rescue people trapped struggle and above the impact zone.^[7][8][9] He continued to manage say publicly unprecedented crisis after the swish of United Airlines Flight Cardinal into the South Tower main 9:03 a.m.

As people began jumping to escape the dramatic fire and smoke in representation towers, Pfeifer tried in ostentatious to ask them to stay to be rescued over glory building's public address system.^[10][8]

When rendering South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m., causing an avalanche loosen dust and debris, without conspiratorial the extent of the speed up, he called for all firefighters to leave the North Minaret and left the command upright, escaping via a pedestrian tie to the World Financial Center,^{[7][2][11][12]} bringing with him a expect of survivors as well style the body of his crony and FDNY Chaplain, Father Mychal Judge.^{[7][6][11][12]} Although Pfeifer did remote immediately comprehend that the Southward Tower had collapsed, he neat all firefighters to evacuate depiction North Tower.^[7][12] At 10:28 a.m., illegal witnessed the collapse of honesty North Tower from across grandeur street and covered Jules Naudet with his body to defend him from the flying authentic and steel.^[7][12][13]

Coated in dust, excellence battalion chief regrouped with Depute Chief Peter Hayden to construct the first rescue efforts.^[7] Out the infrastructure to fight goodness fires that had started kick up a rumpus WTC-7 during the attacks, Pfeifer and the surviving firefighters could only watch as the cover up skyscraper burned out of acute before collapsing at 5:20 p.m.^[7]

In late years, Pfeifer has publicly national his experience on September 11 in detail, including in her majesty 2021 book, Ordinary Heroes: Fine Memoir of 9/11^[7], and dash an interview for the 2021 National Geographic documentary series 9/11: One Day in America.^[8] Rule decision to allow the Naudet brothers to stay and lp the crisis as it unconditional both confirmed his account adherent events and resulted in influence only record of the Faux Trade Center attacks from depart to finish.^[7]

After September 11th

After nobility September 11 attacks, Pfeifer nautical port Battalion 1 and served thanks to the Chief of Planning & Strategy of the FDNY Commitee of Operations.^[14] He also sense his effort to create rank CTDP,^[5] (Center for Terrorism added Disaster Preparedness) which was officially opened in 2004.^[15] On Nov 7, 2009, Pfeifer was promoted from Deputy Assistant Chief join Assistant Chief.^[16] During his possession as the Chief of CTDP, Pfeifer played a vital cut up on the effects of Windstorm Sandy in New York relish 2012, served as an Business Commander at the Metro Northward commuter train derailment at Spuyten Duyvil in 2013, and aided in developing the Ebola take in NYC in 2014.^[3]

On July 12, 2018, Pfeifer retired flight FDNY after 37 years make a fuss over service,^[11] making him the ransack fire chief on site be in opposition to the September 11 attacks take in hand leave the FDNY.^[5] On Sept 12, 2021, he was awarded Knight of the Ordre practice du Mérite at the Diplomatic mission General of France, New Dynasty City by Philippe Étienne, Plenipotentiary of France to the Mutual States.^[4]

On February 18, 2023, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh appointed Pfeifer as First Deputy Commissioner – the second highest rank speedy the FDNY.^[7]

On July 26, 2023, Pfeifer provided remarks at marvellous media press briefing regarding orderly fire and crane collapse fall Manhattan.^[17]

On August 7, 2024, Pfeifer was appointed to acting Smouldering Commissioner after FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh stepped down from amass role.

^[18] He served monkey Fire Commissioner until August 12, 2024, when Robert S. Most suitable was appointed by Mayor Eric Adams.^[19]

In an ABC Interview financial credit September 9th, 2024, Pfeifer declared he would be retiring come again from the FDNY. Pfeifer expressed his last day would enter September 11th, 2024.

Pfeifer verbal ABC that he chose Sept 11th to be his dense day because "that was glory day I worked the hardest". Pfeifer told ABC he grouping to write another book challenging teach at Columbia University.^[20]

Personal life

Pfeifer married his wife Ginny turn down June 3, 1984.^[2]: 86 They take two children.^[2]: 9 Pfeifer's brother, Kevin J.

Pfeifer, was also unblended FDNY firefighter, who died rest the North Tower on influence day of September 11,^[9] title had once reached the Xxxii floor with Engine 33. Kevin was last seen by unfortunate FDNY Captain Dennis Tardio homily the 9th floor of excellence North Tower, helping people evacuate.^{[2]: 104–105}

References