Hours after introducing the city's next superintendent of schools, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on Thursday named longtime Boston firefighter Paul Burke as commissioner of the Boston Fire Department.
Burke has been a Boston Fire Department member for 32 years, serving most recently as deputy chief for fleet and facilities, where he was responsible for all department vehicles and buildings, including budget, purchases, maintenance, safety, and renovations.
"Paul is a trusted leader in this department and has served in many roles leading our fire response," Wu said. "I'm proud to welcome this Roslindale native into leadership as a partner to build a healthy environment for our firefighters and a diverse, connected workforce serving our communities in moments of need.
Burke, who starts his new role Friday, is married with three children. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts and master's in homeland security from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif.
The Boston School Committee on Wednesday offered the superintendent post to Mary Skipper, superintendent of the Somerville schools for the last seven years. Wu called Skipper "the experienced leader and dedicated partner that Boston needs for our young people and families."
Before working in Somerville, Skipper was network superintendent of high schools for the Boston Public Schools, where she oversaw 34 high schools serving about 19,500 students.
Skipper holds a bachelor's degree in English and Latin from Tufts University. She earned a master's in education policy degree from Harvard and a master's in education leadership from Columbia Teachers College.
