KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The interim tag has been dropped from Donna Maize’s title and the Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department officially has its first female fire chief.
City Manager Troy Schulte, who is retiring in February, announced that Maize, a former assistant city manager who has served as acting fire chief since Sept. 8, was the permanent pick for the position.
“Chief Maize is clearly a great leader, and has proven her abilities in every job she’s had,” Schulte said in a statement. “As a second-generation KCFD firefighter, she understands the legacy and tradition, while bringing modern management skills to the department.”
Maize started working for the KCFD in 1992 as a firefighter and worked her way to assistant fire chief.
She eventually commanded the Technical Services Bureau, which manages departmental logistics among other responsibilities, before joining Schulte’s staff at City Hall as an assistant city manager for public safety.
Maize’s father also spent his career with KCFD.
“I thrive on the positivity I receive daily from the department and see a renewed sense of purpose in our responders,” Maize said.
Maize, who replaces outgoing KCFD Fire Chief Gary Reese, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program. She received a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Central Missouri and a master’s in public administration from the University of Kansas.
Reese served as fire chief for less than 18 months.
