City manager names former Rochester, N.Y., fire chief as new Alexandria fire chief

City Manager James F. Parajon has named Felipe Hernandez Jr. as the new Chief of Fire and Emergency Medical Services for the City of Alexandria.

Hernandez is the first Latino to serve as permanent fire chief in Alexandria and comes to the city after 25 years with the City of Rochester, where he previously served as fire chief.

Hernandez retired from Rochester in 2023 and most recently served as superintendent of the New York State Academy of Fire Sciences.

In Rochester, Hernandez started as a firefighter and worked his way up. He eventually held leadership positions in the department's administration, operations, training and emergency management divisions, with a continued focus on recruitment, volunteer support and professional development.

Hernandez succeeds James Schwartz, who has been acting chief since January.

“We can’t thank Chief Schwartz enough for his unwavering commitment to Alexandria,” Parajon said in the release. “Chief Schwartz came out of retirement to help us because he loves the City, Fire and Emergency Medical Services and the department. We are extremely grateful for his guidance, wisdom and support as we continue to move forward.