David Morkal
Job Description? Battalion Chief FDNY (retired).
Why I chose this career? It was an opportunity to have an impact on society.
Proudest moment of my career? Working as the Executive Officer to the Chief of Department.
Something people would be surprised to know about me... my first career was working in the theatre, first as an actor and then designing and building sets and lights from Utah to New York City.
Biography: David Morkal retired in March of 2023 as a Battalion Chief after almost 33 years. He is a graduate of the FDNY’s Fire Officers Management Institute, Advanced Leadership Course and West Point Combating Terrorism Leadership Program. Chief Morkal worked as a firefighter in E-260, E-95 and L-36. Promoted the week after the WTC attacks he worked at the WTC site. He was then assigned to Ladder 18 on the Lower East Side, Captain in Engine 23 in Midtown, and Battalion Chief in Battalion 4 back on the Lower East Side. He later worked as the Chief in Charge of Probationary Firefighter School. He was also the Planning Section Chief and one of the Deputy Incident Commanders for the FDNY Incident Management Team. He has been activated with the team for Hurricanes Gustav, Irene, Sandy, the Buffalo snowstorm, the East Harlem explosion, as well as several wildland fires out west. He finished his career as the Executive Officer to the Chief of the Department during the pandemic.
