Kavanagh was the FDNYs first deputy fire commissioner under former Fire CommissionerDaniel Nigro. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. The 67-year-old was the first chief to respond to the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11 and founded the FDNY's Center for Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness. According to a firefighter source, the demotions by Kavanagh, the FDNYs first female commissioner, were designed to flex her muscle at the 150-year-old Big Apple department. Hodgens and the other chiefs asked to be reassigned after Kavanagh demoted Assistant ChiefsFred Schaaf,Michael GalaandJoseph Jardinto deputy chief, and then called other top chiefs on the carpetin a closed doorFeb. 3meetingwhere she demanded more out of the box thinking and fewer inquiries about vacation rollovers and personal cars. Feb. 9, 2023 Deputy Chiefs Frank Leeb and Kevin Woods are the latest to step aside amid leadership turmoil.