Chief of Department The Chief of Department, appointed by the Fire Commissioner, is the highest-ranking uniformed position in the FDNY. This story has been shared 173,563 times. All rights reserved. Not a single idea of what would help the membership and the citizens of New York has made it to my desk., Departmentspokesman Frank Dwyer declined to comment on the demotionsMonday,tellingThe Post, We do not comment on personnel moves.. What has not come to my desk with a list of things our members could use to get their jobs done better, she said.