Fort Wayne's first woman fire chief will take over for retiring Chief Pete Kelly at the end of June, Mayor Tom Henry said Wednesday.
Assistant Chief Amy Biggs, 42, a 17-year veteran of the Fort Wayne Fire Department, will step into the role June 29, Henry said. She will be the first woman to lead the department in its 173-year history, but Henry said her history with the department made the difference.
"Amy brings an array of experience and great leadership abilities to her new position," Henry said. "The fact that she's a woman certainly adds something as far as diversity, but that was really not that big a factor."
As chief, Biggs will oversee more than 300 firefighters and support staff. Kelly announced his retirement earlier this spring and originally said he would stay on until August. He said the interview process went smoothly, allowing a quicker transition to a new chief.
As chief, she will oversee fire protection for 110 square miles and manage a department of more than 380 firefighters posted at 18 fire stations.
