Francis Simpson, FDNY Chief of Marine Operations

Francis Simpson

Profession & company: FDNY Chief of Marine Operations

How do you celebrate your Irishness? Every year I celebrate my Irishness by marching in the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade — sometimes with my FDNY sisters & brothers, sometimes with my actual sisters & brothers, and always with enough family to qualify as our own county. My Irish‑Catholic clan gathers for everything from Month’s Mind Masses to birthdays that somehow last three days. I’ve been an Emerald Society member for nearly 40 years, which basically means I’ve earned veteran status in storytelling. We visit Ireland often to see cousins, friends, and anyone else who claims us — and in Ireland, that’s a long list.

Name a maritime hero you admire and why? Battalion Chief Michael Buckheit is the maritime hero I admire — the kind of leader who could modernize a Marine Division before most people figured out how to update their phones. He pushed for drones, better boats, sharper training, and real partnerships across the port. Thanks to his vision, the FDNY Marine Division became a well‑oiled, water‑borne machine. If it floats, burns, or needs saving, his influence is probably involved.

What did you learn in your first job which has been useful to you throughout the career? Before joining the FDNY at 22, my first lessons was from delivering more than 50 newspapers day of the afternoon edition of The Long Island Press as an 11‑year‑old paper boy after school. I learned organization, weather survival, customer service, and how to dodge dogs with Olympic‑level agility. I mapped efficient routes long before Google Maps, Waze, or even a decent paper map. Those early lessons became the backbone of my career: planning, preparedness, and making quick decisions when things are literally on fire. That paper route lit the spark that eventually led me to protecting New York City’s 520 miles of waterfront and the safety of its people. 

Biography: Born in the Bronx to parents from Counties Sligo and Laoise, Frank grew up in Elmhurst, Queens and graduated from John Jay College with a degree in Fire Administration and Emergency Planning — perfect training for life in a big, loving Irish family. After losing his father at 13, his mother, Peggy, along with his three brothers and three sisters, taught him resilience, teamwork, and the importance of speaking loudly enough to be heard at the dinner table. He is happily married to his wife, Lourdes, and together they adore their daughter, Marie Louise. His family, friends, and FDNY career keep him steady, even when the seas get rough.