Leon Henderson is Akron’s new fire chief.
Henderson was sworn in Friday morning, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik announced. The city will hold a ceremonial swearing-in celebration in the coming weeks.
Henderson, the former deputy chief, replaces Joseph Natko, who in March announced his retirement and transitioned to a new role with the city as Assistant to the Mayor for Emergency Management.
On July 10, the city will host a community town hall at the Akron Summit Public Library in downtown Akron, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to meet the new Fire Chief.
“It is a true privilege to serve the Akron community, and the firefighters/EMTs and administrative staff of our department,” Henderson, a Garfield High School graduate and U.S. Army veteran, said in a statement.
“I will work closely with our teams as we continue to prioritize the safety of our residents.”
Henderson began his career with the Akron Fire Department in 1990 as a firefighter/paramedic. He has risen through the ranks, serving as a firefighter/paramedic, dispatch supervisor lieutenant, and captain safety officer, before being promoted to district chief (2018) and deputy chief (2022).
