Who is Akron's new fire chief? Léon Henderson took the oath

AKRON, Ohio — There's a new fire chief in town…

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik revealed Friday morning that Akron Deputy Fire Chief Leon Henderson has been chosen to become the city's next fire chief.

“Chief Henderson replaces former Chief Joseph Natko who announced his retirement from the department in March and took on a new role within the administration as Assistant to the Mayor for Emergency Management,” according to a release from press from Mayor Malik's office. “Chief Henderson was sworn in this morning and the city will host a swearing-in ceremony in the coming weeks.”

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To allow residents to meet with Chief Henderson and ask him a few questions, a community town hall meeting has been scheduled for July 10 at the Akron Summit County Public Library in downtown from 5 to 6:30 p.m. .

“It is the honor of my professional career to serve as chief of the Akron Fire Department,” said Chief Henderson. “Vince Lombardi once said: “A person's quality of life is directly proportional to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. » It is a true privilege to serve the Akron community, as well as our department's firefighters/EMTs and administrative staff. I will work closely with our teams as we continue to prioritize the safety of our residents.

Mayor Malik called Chief Henderson “a dedicated public servant with 34 years of service” to the Akron community.

“He has the attitude, skills and leadership qualities we were looking for in this role,” Mayor Malik said. “We have an exceptional fire department and I look forward to seeing how it continues to grow and prosper under the leadership of Chief Henderson.” I would also like to thank Deputy Chief Steven Kaut for serving as interim chief during our search process. His service and leadership have been invaluable throughout this transition.

The city says Chief Henderson will be responsible for the planning, organization and administrative direction and oversight of firefighting, fire prevention, emergency medical services, rescue, code enforcement, safety communications, emergency preparedness, disaster planning and other fire service activities.

Here is his biography provided by Mayor Malik’s office…

Chief Leon Henderson has a proven track record of three decades of experience in fire service, fire prevention, safety communications and emergency response. A proud graduate of Akron Garfield High School and veteran of the United States Army, Chief Henderson began his distinguished career with the Akron Fire Department in 1990 as a firefighter/paramedic. Over the years, he rose through the ranks, serving as firefighter/paramedic, dispatch supervisor lieutenant and safety officer captain, before being promoted to district chief in 2018 and deputy chief in 2022.

Chef Henderson's extensive training and certifications reflect his commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. He has completed FEMA community preparedness training and various advanced incident command classes, OPOTA law enforcement training at the SACS Training Academy and is a certified NAUI rescue diver. He is also a state-certified fire inspector and instructor. Additionally, he earned certification in arson investigation from the National Fire Academy and received specialized training in information technology.

In his role as Deputy Chief, Henderson has demonstrated exceptional leadership by fostering a culture of adaptive leadership and promoting diversity within the department, achieving a historic minority recruitment rate of 44% in the Department's Class of 2024. Akron fire. His commitment to community safety is reflected in the creation of fire prevention educational programs, ensuring the safety of Akron's businesses and public schools.

As district manager, Henderson managed critical projects including the implementation of a consolidated CAD system, resulting in significant savings and improved operational efficiencies. His strategic oversight of the deployment of the WestNet alert system and the conduct of the first simulated exercise for the Security Communications Center also demonstrated his commitment to improving emergency response capabilities.

Beyond his technical expertise, Chief Henderson is a proactive leader in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. He served on the City of Akron's Racial Equity and Social Justice Task Force, started the Akron Fire Department's Human Relations Committee, and designed a recruiting task force in collaboration with other municipal departments and local organizations to improve employment opportunities.

Chief Henderson's career is marked by his dedication to public safety, community involvement, strategic leadership and unwavering commitment to serving the Akron community. His extensive experience in project management, communications and emergency services consistently demonstrates his ability to lead teams, implement innovative solutions and foster collaboration across diverse departments and organizations.

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