Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh Appoints Michael Fields as Chief of EMS Operations and Luis Martinez as Chief of Staff
January 19, 2023
Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh will appoint Chief Michael Fields as Chief of EMS Operations and Luis Martinez as Chief of Staff on Friday, January 20, 2023, at 9:30 a.m., at FDNY Headquarters at 9 Metrotech Center in the Auditorium. The ceremony will be streamed on FDNY’s website, www.nyc.gov/fdny.
“Chief Fields and Chief of Staff Martinez are devoted public servants who have spent their entire careers ensuring the health and safety of New Yorkers. They have responded to calls for help on the streets of our city, and now bring their unique talents and extensive experience to critical leadership positions on my team,” said Commissioner Kavanagh. “They are innovative leaders who have a proven track record on public safety, a dedication to the citizens of New York City and the members of the FDNY, and a commitment to ensuring our great department thrives. I cannot wait to see what we can accomplish together. I also want to thank Lillian Bonsignore and Elizabeth Cascio for their decades of service to the city and for their guidance and friendship during my years in the FDNY. Their passion for EMS is inspiring and I wish them long, happy, healthy retirements.”
“I have had the pleasure of serving in EMS across a wide range of this Department, responding to urgent calls for help from my fellow New Yorkers, providing critical emergency medical care, and leading our extraordinary EMTs and Paramedics in commands across the city,” said Chief of EMS Fields. “EMS has been my life’s work and I’m honored and beyond excited to serve as the Chief of the busiest and very best emergency service in the world.”
"I am deeply humbled by this opportunity to continue serving the great people of this city. I am excited to get to work for the Commissioner and her great team, to advocate for this agency and its members," said Chief of Staff Luis Martinez.
About Chief of EMS Michael Fields
Chief Fields is a 28-year veteran of the Department. As Chief of EMS Operations, he will oversee the Department’s over 4,000 EMTs, Paramedics, EMS Officers and civilian employees in the Bureau of EMS, and will be responsible for overseeing EMS operations, planning, strategic initiatives, and logistics.
Chief Fields joined EMS in 1994, and his first assignment was Emergency Medical Dispatch. In 2000, he was promoted to Paramedic and worked at Station 57 in Brooklyn. In 2005, he was promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to Brooklyn. In 2010, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to Queens and worked in the Department’s Bureau of Investigation and Trials. In 2013, he was promoted to Deputy Chief and worked in the Bronx. In 2017, he was promoted to Division Commander of Division 2 in the Bronx. In 2020, he was promoted to Deputy Assistant Chief where he commanded the EMS City South Command, covering Brooklyn and Staten Island. Most recently, Chief Fields was assigned as Deputy Assistant Chief in EMS Operations.
Chief Fields is a graduate Eastern Gateway Community College, the FDNY’s Fire Officers Management Institute, and the FDNY/USMA Counterterrorism Leadership - Combatting Terrorism Program, and is currently enrolled in Metropolitan College of New York.
Chief Fields replaces Lillian Bonsignore, who retired in December after 31 years of service.
Download Chief of EMS Michael Fields photo.
About Chief of Staff Luis Martinez
Chief of Staff Luis Martinez reports directly to Fire Commissioner Kavanagh and will oversee the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Community Affairs Unit, Youth Workforce and Pipeline Programs, and the Family Assistance Unit. He will also be responsible for providing strategic guidance and ensuring the Department achieves its primary vision and initiatives.
Prior to this appointment, Chief of Staff Martinez served as a uniformed Lieutenant in the New York City Police Department, where he spent the past 18 years in several roles, ranging from Patrol in East Harlem to the Counterterrorism Bureau’s critical infrastructure protection section. There, he developed and implemented protective security strategies for all recurring and specialized large-scale events throughout New York City. Most recently, Luis served in the office of Strategic Initiatives as a senior policy advisor to the Police Commissioner’s office, where he contributed to the NYPD’s strategic planning efforts and spearheaded innovative programs such as launching the NYPD’s first customer service survey program.
Born and raised in the Inwood and Washington Heights neighborhoods of upper Manhattan, Luis has earned a B.A. in Forensic Psychology from CUNY John Jay College and a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University.
Chief of Staff Martinez replaces outgoing Chief of Staff Elizabeth Cascio, who is retiring in February after 39 years of service.
Download Chief of Staff Luis Martinez photo.
