San Francisco's Mayor, London Breed, has officially announced today that Deputy Chief Sandy Tong will step in as the Interim Chief of the San Francisco Fire Department. Chief Tong fills the role following the retirement of Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson and will serve in the provisional position while the search for a permanent Fire Chief continues. Known for her five-year tenure on Chief Nicholson's Command Staff, Chief Tong recently held the position of Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Community Paramedicine. Her leadership was instrumental in developing the Community Paramedicine Division and the City's Street Response Teams, notably altering San Francisco’s 911 responses to behavioral health crises, as cited by the City and County of San Francisco.
Upon her appointment as the Interim Chief, Mayor Breed expressed her gratitude, stating, as per the City and County of San Francisco, "I'm grateful that Chief Tong is stepping up to lead the San Francisco Fire Department, bringing her experience and leadership to keep the Department focused on delivering its mission of keeping our residents and City safe". In her acknowledgments, Chief Tong conveyed her modesty and intent to build on her predecessor's legacy, highlighting her confidence in the Department’s abilities to sustain the exemplary work being done daily. Furthermore, Fire Chief Nicholson's endorsement of Chief Tong's appointment echoed this sentiment, referring to her as a "brilliant and thoughtful leader."
Chief Tong's ascent as the first Chinese American interim leader of the Fire Department is built on a solid foundation of over 35 years of experience in the EMS field. Her career trajectory, which included roles such as a field paramedic and supervisory positions within the 911 dispatch center, has been detailed by the San Francisco Fire Department. These roles have seen Chief Tong directly engage with the city's most critical incidents and navigate the complexities of emergency response and healthcare delivery.
Additionally, Chief Tong's strategic response during the onset of the pandemic received recognition for keeping essential personal protective equipment in steady supply and adapting patient care procedures to the evolving knowledge of the virus. Her academic achievements, with degrees in Sino-Soviet Relations and Organizational Psychology, complement her tactical acumen. The community stands as witnesses to a leader whose roots have been intertwined with the Chinatown neighborhood, where family ties trace back generations.
