Gorman Departs to IAFF
McDonnell Interim President of UFOA

By ARI PAUL

The executive board of the Uniformed Fire Officers' Association elected Battalion Chief John J. McDonnell its interim president on June 1.

JOHN J. McDONNELL: Back at UFOA helm.

Captain Peter L. Gorman, the UFOA president for the last eight years, left three months before his term was to end to take a position as chief of staff for the International Association of Firefighters in Washington, D.C.

Elected by Board

Battalion Chief McDonnell was elected by the eight current members of the executive board, including Vice President Stephen Carbone, who initially sought the job. The board consists of three representatives for each rank - Captain, Lieutenant and Chief. Captain Gorman's departure from the UFOA left a vacancy on the board.

"I would hope the work I start now will be a continuation of Pete's hard work," said Battalion Chief McDonnell, who served one year as the union's leader a decade ago.

He said he wants to work on the ongoing contract negotiations. He will seek a full one-year term as president when the executive board assembles for election in September.

His previous tenure was marked by frequent clashes with then-Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen. In September 1998 he was replaced by Deputy Chief Arthur Parrinello following an election in which Mr. Von Essen was believed to have played a behind-the-scenes role.

When asked how it felt to be back in charge again, Chief McDonnell replied, "More comfortable than it did then."

He added the experience he has had working at the union since then has helped him. His last post was treasurer, and he was succeeded by Lieut. Edward Boles.

Battalion Chief McDonnell joined the department in 1973, and won its highest honor for bravery, the James Gordon Bennett Medal, for rescuing a man from a burning building in Washington Heights 20 years ago. He returned to the field in 2002 for two years after being promoted to Battalion Chief.