AK Department Appoints First Female Chief

Jodie Hettrick on Wednesday officially became the Anchorage Fire Department's first female chief after serving as acting chief since May.

By Michelle Theriault Boots

Source Anchorage Daily News, Alaska

June 7, 2018

June 07 -- The new chief of the Anchorage Fire Department is Jodie Hettrick, the first woman to be appointed to the position.

Mayor Ethan Berkowitz announced the appointment Wednesday.

Hettrick has been serving as the department's acting head since former chief Denis LeBlanc retired in May.

Hettrick joined the department in 2012, the mayor's office said in a statement. In 2015, she became a deputy fire chief responsible for daily management of the department.

Hettrick has also worked for the Valdez Fire Department, Central Mat-Su Fire Department and the state's Division of Fire and Life Safety, according to the municipality.