Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has appointed Stephan Drennan as the acting chief of the local fire department, a ranking member who has been serving for over four decades and whose family has a long history of public service.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
To date, the Drennan legacy spans three generations, including 17 members of the family collectively serving the JCFD for over 500 years, including Stephan’s father, son, uncles, and cousins.
“The Drennan family has a long and proud history of service throughout Jersey City, and I have no doubt that Stephan Drennan will continue to lead our great fire department at the highest standard we have worked so hard to achieve,” Fulop said in a statement.
“Stephan’s appointment is a testament to his dedication to the fire service and protecting our community over the past four decades where he has gone above and beyond the call of duty.”
This announcement follows the retirement of Chief Steven McGill, who served on the JCFD for over 35 years, including his last five years as the head of the department. In 2022, the JCFD responded to over 14,000 calls for service.
Over the past 10 years under the Fulop Administration, the JCFD has grown to the largest municipal department in New Jersey.
“I am honored and humbled for the opportunity to lead the best fire department in New Jersey. When my father was hired as a firefighter in 1959, the year I was born, never did my family imagine a Drennan would one day be appointed to the role of Fire Department chief,” noted Drennan.
“I know it is an awesome responsibility, and I hope to pay tribute to my father and uncles, all of whom were Army Veterans born and raised in Jersey City. They blazed the way for me, my son, and all 10 of my cousins. We stand on their shoulders.”
Throughout his 40-plus-year career, Drennan has exceeded the call of duty to provide the Jersey City community with exceptional fire protection.
He has extensive qualifications in all special operations ranging from Structural Collapse Rescue Specialist to Swift Water Rescue Operations and everything in between.
He also reached top rank as Rescue Manager and was most recently a Lead Instructor for New Jersey Task Force 1.
Additionally, Drennan spent 15 years as the Rescue Company One Captain and five years as the Fourth Battalion Chief. As a deputy chief, he served as the chief of training before earning this latest promotion.
The New Jersey Civil Service test to appoint a permanent Fire Department Chief is currently pending.
