About Frank
Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank C. McKinley was appointed to lead the Cincinnati Fire Department in October of 2023. He is responsible for the overall strategic leadership of the department, ensuring the safety and well-being of both residents of and visitors to the city. To deliver on this duty, he leads approximately 850 uniformed members and 50 civilian members, who are assigned to four districts within 26 fire stations, and who provide a broad range of emergency, medical, and fire services.
Chief McKinley was a member of the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department from 1995 to 2023. He has 31 years of experience in fire service leadership in crisis and emergency response, fire management, fire protection operations/safety, quality assurance and logistics, and learning and development.
Throughout his career, he has focused on exemplary firefighter readiness and training, and overall departmental emergency preparedness of firefighters. His passion for education led him to teach outside of the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department, and he has served as an adjunct professor for Texas A&M Engineering Extension Services, along with other local colleges within the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Additionally, Chief McKinley has served on the Tarrant County Community College Fire Service Advisory Committee, the El Centro College Fire Protection Technology Advisory Committee, and the University of North Texas Dallas Emergency Services Administration Advisory Committee. He is also a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Chief McKinley holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education Administration from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Emergency and Disaster Management from Georgetown University. Chief McKinley is also an active member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated.
Chief McKinley comes to Cincinnati with a commitment to focus on three areas of growth: safety and mental health for our firefighters and community; customer service that demonstrates effectiveness in serving internal and external stakeholders; and equity and inclusion, ensuring everyone can bring their voice to the solutions created.
About NAACP - Cincinnati Chapter
The Cincinnati NAACP is an advocacy organization that is part of the National NAACP, operated by local members in the Hamilton County jurisdiction. The Cincinnati Branch of the NAACP advocates against disparities in housing, education, economic development and healthcare to name just a few. They raise awareness to address the inequities that exist in vulnerable, marginalized and disadvantaged communities. They also stand up against racial discrimination and hate, and provide voter registration, education and engagement as well as campaign forums for the community.