Joseph W. Pfeifer

Joseph W. Pfeifer (born 1956) is a retired American firefighter who served with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). Pfeifer served as First Deputy Commissioner of the FDNY from February 2023 until September 2024, and as Acting Fire Commissioner of the FDNY in August 2024. Prior to his civilian work in the FDNY, Pfeifer was an Assistant Chief. He retired in 2018.

He was the first fire chief to respond to the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Early life and education Pfeifer enrolled in the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in 1974 with a major in psychology and a minor in philosophy, and graduated in 1978.

Pfeifer holds a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from Harvard Kennedy School, a Master in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master in Theology from Immaculate Conception. He had celebrated his 20th anniversary with the FDNY six days earlier and was therefore eligible for retirement. That was the last time he ever saw his brother. He continued to manage the unprecedented crisis after the crash of United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower at 9:03 a.m. As people began jumping to escape the intense fire and smoke in the towers, Pfeifer tried in vain to ask them to wait to be rescued over the building's public address system. bringing with him a number of survivors as well as the body of his friend and FDNY Chaplain, Father Mychal Judge.

Coated in dust, the battalion chief regrouped with Deputy Chief Peter Hayden to coordinate the first rescue efforts. He also made his effort to create the CTDP On November 7, 2009, Pfeifer was promoted from Deputy Assistant Chief to Assistant Chief. During his tenure as the Chief of CTDP, Pfeifer played a vital role on the effects of Hurricane Sandy in New York in 2012, served as an Incident Commander at the Metro North commuter train derailment at Spuyten Duyvil in 2013, and assisted in developing the Ebola response in NYC in 2014. making him the last fire chief on site of the September 11 attacks to leave the FDNY.

On August 7, 2024, Pfeifer was appointed to acting Fire Commissioner after FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh stepped down from her role. He served as Fire Commissioner until August 12, 2024, when Robert S. Tucker was appointed by Mayor Eric Adams.

In an ABC interview on September 9, 2024, Pfeifer announced he would be retiring again from the FDNY. Pfeifer stated his last day would be September 11, 2024. Pfeifer told ABC that he chose September 11 to be his last day because "that was the day I worked the hardest". Pfeifer told ABC he plans to write another book and teach at Columbia University.

FDNY Ranks

FDNY First Deputy Fire Commissioner - (February 2023 - September 2024) FDNY Assistant Chief of Department - (November 2009 - July 2018) Chief of Counterterrorism and Emergency Preparedness FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief - (Unknown - November 2009) Chief of Counterterrorism and Emergency Preparedness Chief of Operations for Planning and Strategy FDNY Deputy Fire Chief - (2002) FDNY Battalion Chief - (1997) Battalion 1. (September 2001) FDNY Fire Captain - (1993) FDNY Lieutenant - (1987) FDNY Firefighter - (1981)

Personal life Pfeifer married his wife Ginny on June 3, 1984. They have two children. Pfeifer's brother, Kevin J. Pfeifer, was also a FDNY firefighter, who died at the North Tower on the day of September 11, and had once reached the 32nd floor with Engine 33. Kevin was last seen by survivor FDNY Captain Dennis Tardio on the 9th floor of the North Tower, helping people evacuate.