Please join the MCNY Community as we congratulate EMS Chief Michael Fields!

Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, Fields Family with John Esposito, Chief of Fire Operations

Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh appointed Michael Fields as Chief of EMS Operations who was sworn in on Friday, January 20, 2023, at the FDNY Headquarters in Brooklyn. Chief Fields is the FDNY’s first Black EMS chief to lead New York City’s emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

“I have had the pleasure of serving in EMS across a wide range of this Department, responding to urgent calls for help from my fellow New Yorkers, providing critical emergency medical care, and leading our extraordinary EMTs and Paramedics in commands across the city,” said Chief of EMS Fields, “EMS has been my life’s work and I’m honored and beyond excited to serve as the Chief of the busiest and very best emergency service in the world.”

Chief Michael Fields with son Michael, Jr., FDNY EMS

Among Fields’ goals as the city’s newest EMS chief will be improving response times and FDNY diversity. Fields, a Brooklyn native, joined EMS in 1994. He started his career in EMS communications before becoming a medic and serving the Bedford-Stuyvesant community where he was born and raised. Michael Fields found his PURPOSE—“Seeing people you grew up with in bad situations and being able to assist them,”  said Chief Fields, “I like to give back to my community.”

Watch the video clip on the FDNY’s Facebook page.

About Chief Michael Fields
Chief Michael Fields is a 28-year veteran of the Department. As Chief of EMS Operations, he will oversee the Department’s over 4,000 EMTs, Paramedics, EMS Officers and civilian employees in the Bureau of EMS. He will be responsible for overseeing EMS operations, planning, strategic initiatives, and logistics.

Chief Fields joined EMS in 1994, and his first assignment was Emergency Medical Dispatch. In 2000, he was promoted to Paramedic and worked at Station 57. In 2005, he was promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to his hometown borough of Brooklyn. In 2010, he was promoted to Captain, assigned to Queens, and worked in the Department’s Bureau of Investigation and Trials. In 2013, his career took him from Brooklyn to the Bronx, then to FDNY headquarters, where he worked toward recruiting new members. He met his wife, EMS Lieutenant Nikola Combs-Fields while climbing the department ladder. He was promoted to Deputy Chief and worked in the Bronx. In 2017, he was promoted to Division Commander of Division 2 in the Bronx. In 2020, he was promoted to Deputy Assistant Chief where he commanded the EMS City South Command, covering Brooklyn and Staten Island. Chief Fields was recently assigned as Deputy Assistant Chief in EMS Operations.

The Fields’ son, Michael Fields Jr., a Bronx EMT, joined FDNY EMS during the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. “Having my son among the agency’s rank-and-file helps me keep grounded,” says Michael Fields, “I’m very proud of him. I hope he makes a name for himself in whatever path he chooses here. This career is like no other because you’re helping people and giving back to the community.” 

Chief Fields is a graduate of Eastern Gateway Community College, the FDNY’s Fire Officers Management Institute, and the FDNY/USMA Counterterrorism Leadership – Combatting Terrorism Program, and is currently enrolled in Metropolitan College of New York’s Bachelor of Arts s in Emergency Management & Business Continuity program.