Salvatore Cassano
Encyclopedia
Salvatore Joseph "Sal" Cassano (born 22 January 1945) is the New York City Fire Commissioner. His appointment by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to succeed Nicholas Scoppetta
was announced on 21 December 2009 and became effective on 1 January 2010. Cassano was officially sworn in
on 11 January 2010.
section of Brooklyn
, New York
, and lives on Staten Island
. After serving in the United States Army
during the Vietnam War
, he began a career as a firefighter
in November 1969. He earned an associate degree in fire protection
technology from New York City College of Technology
in 1970, and a bachelor of science
degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice
in 1976.
and Brooklyn
, and has been honored five times during his career for bravery. He received commendations for meritorious acts between 1979 and 1983 for rescuing five people from burning apartments, all in Brooklyn
.
Cassano has held every rank in the department during his career, and was instrumental in rebuilding the department after 343 firefighters died as a result of the September 11 attacks, after which he was named Chief of Operations. He was appointed Chief of Department, the highest uniformed position in the department, in 2006, and his appointment as Fire Commissioner was announced by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
on 21 December 2009.
In 2011, in recognition of his service to the city of New York, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor
.
Wallace), live in the Huguenot
section of Staten Island, where they raised their family. They have five children and four grandchildren. A marathon runner, he has run the New York City Marathon
four times and has broken the three-hour mark.
Nicholas Scoppetta
Nicholas Scoppetta served as the 31st Fire Commissioner of the City of New York. He was appointed to that position by Mayor Michael R...
was announced on 21 December 2009 and became effective on 1 January 2010. Cassano was officially sworn in
Oath
An oath is either a statement of fact or a promise calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear is to take an oath, to make a solemn vow...
on 11 January 2010.
Background
A son of Italian-American immigrants, Cassano was born in the Carroll GardensCarroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Carroll Gardens is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. The area is named for Charles Carroll, a revolutionary war veteran who was also the only Roman Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence...
section of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and lives on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
. After serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, he began a career as a firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
in November 1969. He earned an associate degree in fire protection
Fire protection
Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as well as the research and development, production, testing and application of...
technology from New York City College of Technology
New York City College of Technology
New York City College of Technology , nicknamed City Tech, is the largest four-year public college of technology in the northeastern United States, and a constituent college of the City University of New York...
in 1970, and a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a senior college of the City University of New York in Midtown Manhattan, New York City and is the only liberal arts college with a criminal justice and forensic focus in the United States. The college offers programs in Forensic Science and Forensic...
in 1976.
Career
Cassano has served in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, and has been honored five times during his career for bravery. He received commendations for meritorious acts between 1979 and 1983 for rescuing five people from burning apartments, all in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.
Cassano has held every rank in the department during his career, and was instrumental in rebuilding the department after 343 firefighters died as a result of the September 11 attacks, after which he was named Chief of Operations. He was appointed Chief of Department, the highest uniformed position in the department, in 2006, and his appointment as Fire Commissioner was announced by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
on 21 December 2009.
In 2011, in recognition of his service to the city of New York, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Ellis Island Medal of Honor
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor was founded by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations and intended to pay homage to the immigrant experience. The medals honor the contribution made to America by immigrants and the legacy they left behind in the successes of their children and grand-children...
.
Personal
Cassano and his wife, Theresa (néeMarried and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Wallace), live in the Huguenot
Huguenot, Staten Island
Huguenot is the name of a neighborhood located on the South Shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, USA. In recent years it has become increasingly customary to refer to the western part of Huguenot as a separate neighborhood called Woodrow...
section of Staten Island, where they raised their family. They have five children and four grandchildren. A marathon runner, he has run the New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
four times and has broken the three-hour mark.
Further reading
- Biography - New York City Fire Department