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Letter from the
Fire Commissioner
Roderick Fraser,
Fire Commissioner
I am deeply honored to have been appointed the 37th Commissioner of the
Boston Fire Department by Mayor Thomas Menino. The Boston Fire Department is the oldest professional Fire
Department in our nation and has been serving the people of Boston for over 328 years. Our city and our Department
are steeped in tradition. As we take pride in our heritage, we also look to the future to new challenges.
I am proud to lead this department in this new century as we strive to improve the services we provide our
community. Our role and mission is increasing as we face the possibility of large scale natural disaster as well
as the always present threat of terrorism in our city. We are working to keep our department up to date with the
newest technology available and to better educate the citizens of Boston in fire prevention through our Community
Fire fighting program.
As the city's lead agency on Chemical, Biological and Radiological defense, we will take a stronger leadership
role in developing a long range training program for the Department that includes interagency planning and training.
Additionally, we will work to improve the diversity of our Fire Department to better reflect the community we serve.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our website and I encourage you to check out the information listed under the
"Community Firefighting" menu option and to use the "Station location" option to locate the Fire Station nearest to you.
Sincerely,
Roderick Fraser
Boston Fire Commissioner
Biography of Commissioner Fraser
Commissioner Fraser grew up in East Millinocket, Maine. He received his Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering from Maine Maritime Academy and was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in April of 1986. Mr. Fraser spent the next 20 years serving in the U.S Navy in a variety of assignments culminating in Commanding USS UNDERWOOD (FFG 36), a guided missile frigate homeported in Mayport, FL.
His first sea duty tour was as the Aft Propulsion Group Officer in USS FORRESTAL (CV 59) from 1987 to May 1989. His second division officer tour was in USS MOBILE BAY (CG 53) as First LT and Assistant Chief Engineer from 1989 to 1990. From 1990 to 1993, he served in the Engineering Training Department at Surface Warfare Officers School Command, Newport, RI. While in Newport, he completed a Masters Degree in Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island.
Commissioner Fraser's first Department Head tour was as Chief Engineer of USS ROBERT G. BRADLEY (FFG 49) from 1994 to 1996. He then transferred to USS YORKTOWN (CG 48) where he served as Chief Engineer from 1996 to 1998. After departing the YORKTOWN, he attended the US Naval War College in Newport, RI where he completed a Masters Degree in National Security Affairs and Strategic Planning
After graduating from the War College, Commissioner Fraser served as the Executive officer in USS THOMAS S GATES (CG 51) from 1999 to 2000, during which time, THOMAS S GATES made two deployments and served as the Flag Ship for NATO's Standing Naval Forces Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT).
Commissioner Fraser served as the director of Damage Control and Firefighting Training at Surface Warfare Officers School Command, Newport, RI (SWOSCOLCOM) from 2000 to 2002, and as the Director of Engineering Training from 2002 to 2004. During this assignment, he was responsible for directing twelve Navy courses of instruction that trained all U.S. Navy Officers from the position of Commanding Officer down to Division Officer in Marine Engineering principals and operations, Damage Control and Shipboard Firefighting. Additionally, he worked to bring new firefighting technologies into the Navy and established a new course to train Navy Combat Systems Department heads in the Maintenance and Quality Control programs and procedures for all Navy Combat Systems equipment.
As the Commanding Officer of USS UNDERWOOD, Commissioner Fraser led the ship and crew through a deployment to the Northern Arabian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was the Scene of Action Commander responsible for protecting the Iraqi offshore oil terminals at Al Basrah and Khor Al Amaya and was also responsible for training the Iraqi Navy in Anti-terrorism, Force Protection, ship handling and Maritime Security procedures that will enable them to protect the oil terminals themselves. Commissioner Fraser also led UNDERWOOD as part of the GEORGE WASHINGTON Strike Group during Operation "Partnership of the Americas" during which, he was recognized by Commander George Washington Strike Group for excellence in hosting the President of Honduras and the President's Cabinet along with the US Ambassador for a demonstration of US military capabilities.
Commissioner Fraser has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal two gold stars, Navy Achievement Medal one gold star and numerous unit awards and commendations.
Commander Fraser is married to the former Angela Schietromo of Providence, RI. They have two children, Matthew and Maria.
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