Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro Appoints Lillian Bonsignore Chief of EMS
May 6, 2019
Lillian Bonsignore, 28-year Veteran, is First Woman Appointed to Chief of EMS
Alvin Suriel, 30-year Veteran, is First Hispanic Member Appointed Assistant Chief of EMS
Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro will appoint two veteran EMS Chiefs to the top ranks in the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) – Lillian Bonsignore as Chief of EMS and Alvin Suriel as Assistant Chief of EMS – on Tuesday, May 7, at 1 p.m. at FDNY Headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn.
Chief Bonsignore, a 28-year veteran who most recently served as Chief of EMS Academy, will now supervise 4,100 EMT’s, Paramedics, EMS Officers, and civilian employees in the EMS Bureau, and will be responsible for overseeing operations, planning, strategic initiatives, and logistics.
Chief Suriel, a 30-year veteran who most recently served as Deputy Assistant Chief of EMS Operations, will serve as Chief Bonsignore’s second-in-command.
“Lillian Bonsignore is a dedicated and proven manager who has ensured the next generation of EMTs and Paramedics are trained and equipped to provide the highest level of pre-hospital medical care,” said Fire Commissioner Nigro. “In his decades as a member of EMS, Alvin Suriel has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence as an EMT, Paramedic, and in multiple roles as an EMS officer. He will bring that same dedication to his new role helping to run EMS operations citywide.”
About Chief of EMS Lillian Bonsignore:
Chief Bonsignore was appointed as a New York City EMT in 1991 and initially assigned to EMS Station 14 at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx. Chief Bonsignore was an instructor in the CFR program during the terror attacks on September 11th, and responded from Fort Totten in a convoy of EMS members to the World Trade Center, and spent many days taking part in our rescue and recovery efforts. She moved up the ranks becoming a Lieutenant in 2005, serving in the South Bronx, later becoming a paramedic in 2007. After being promoted to Captain in 2010, she served as Station Commander of two EMS Stations in Brooklyn and was promoted to Deputy Chief in the EMS Academy, in 2013.
She was appointed Chief of EMS Academy at Fort Totten in 2016, where she was responsible for the continuing education and EMS recertification of nearly 13,000 members of the FDNY. In addition, Chief Bonsignore was responsible for all FDNY EMS Officer training and commands the FDNY EMS Probationary School.
Chief Bonsignore graduated from the FDNY Fire Officers Management Institute (FOMI) and has completed several leadership programs including the Naval Post Graduate School-Executive leadership, FDNY Officer’s Management Institute, FDNY/USMA Counterterrorism Leadership- Combating Terrorism, TEEX –EMS Operations and Planning for Weapons of Mass Destruction and multiple National Incident Management systems courses.
About Assistant Chief of EMS Alvin Suriel:
Chief Suriel was appointed an EMT in 1989 and assigned to Harlem. Completing his paramedic training in 1993, he was assigned to Stations 14 and 26, later becoming paramedic coordinator for the Bronx. Suriel was in a Paramedic recertification class, and responded from Fort Totten in a convoy of EMS members to the World Trade Center and spent many days taking part in our rescue and recovery efforts. Following his promotion to Lieutenant in 2005, he served as Citywide Paramedic coordinator for EMS Operations. He was promoted to Captain in 2010, Deputy Chief in 2013, and Division Commander in 2015. He was appointed Deputy Assistant Chief of EMS Operations in 2017.
WHERE: FDNY Headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn
WHEN: Tuesday, May 7 – 1 p.m.
For photos of the event, click here.