Former Fire Chief, Atlanta Fire Rescue Department

Kelvin Cochran is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana. At an early age, he knew he wanted to be a firefighter, from the moment he saw a “big red Shreveport fire truck” pull up outside his house to put out a neighbor’s fire. He grew up going to church, and the adults in his congregation gave him a clear message: His “dreams could come true” if he had faith in God, got a good education, respected his elders, and treated others the way they liked to be treated.

Cochran holds a Bachelors Degree in Organizational Management; Louisiana Tech University (2004) with a Master’s Degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology; and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University.

His employment with the Shreveport Fire Department began in 1981 as a firefighter. He was then promoted to Fire Training Officer and served in this capacity from 1985 - 1990, when he gained promotion to Assistant Chief Training Officer. His service in this position concluded when he was appointed Fire Chief of the Shreveport Fire Department on August 26, 1999.  On January 2, 2008 he was appointed fire chief of the City of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.  On August 17, 2009 he was appointed as the United States Fire Administrator by President Barack Obama; June 19, 2010 he was re-appointed by Mayor Kasim Reed as Fire Chief of the City of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department. Kelvin now serves as Chief Strategic Officer/Chief Operating Officer of the Elizabeth Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

Cochran’s Fire Service involvement includes: International Association of Fire Chiefs: Former First Vice President-IAFC 2007, Second Vice President-IAFC 2006; Past President of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association; Southeastern Division IAFC; Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs; Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association; and he authored two (2) chapters for Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Chief Fire Officers Desk Reference: Chapter 1-Leadership and Management and Chapter 25-The Fire Chief of the Future.  Kelvin received the International Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association—Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 and the International Association of Fire Chiefs—Career Fire Chief of the Year Award in 2012.

Kelvin served as a deacon and teacher at Elizabeth Baptist Church until being called into the ministry in January 2015.  He is married to Carolyn Marshall Cochran (33 years) and the father of three children, and one granddaughter.