Kelvin J. Cochran facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kelvin J. Cochran
U.S. Fire Administrator
In office January 1, 2009 – May 8, 2010
Preceded by	Gregory B. Cade
Succeeded by	Glenn A. Gaines
Fire Chief, Atlanta Fire Department, Atlanta, Georgia
In office August 16, 2010 – January 6, 2015
Preceded by	Joel G. Baker
Succeeded by	Joel G. Baker (named Interim Chief)
Personal details
Born	(1960-01-23) January 23, 1960 (age 65) Shreveport, Louisiana
Residences	Atlanta, Georgia
Occupation	Fire chief; author

Kelvin J. Cochran (born January 23, 1960) is a well-known author and public speaker. He served as the leader of the United States Fire Administration and was also the Fire Chief for the Atlanta Fire Department. He later left his role as Fire Chief in Atlanta due to disagreements over a book he wrote.

Early Life and Career

Kelvin Cochran started his career in firefighting in 1981. He joined the Shreveport Fire Department. There, he worked as a trainer and later became an assistant fire chief. On August 26, 1999, he made history. Mayor Keith Hightower appointed him as the first African-American fire chief of Shreveport, Louisiana.

In 2005, he helped the New Orleans Fire Department. This was after the devastating Hurricane Katrina. From 2006 to 2007, he also held important positions. He worked with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

Cochran began working for the Atlanta Fire Department on January 2, 2008. This was under Mayor Kasim Reed. In July 2009, President Barack Obama chose him for a big role. He became the U.S. Fire Administrator. In this job, he worked closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He also worked with the United States Department of Homeland Security. His main goal was to prevent fires and improve how firefighters respond to emergencies. He served in this national role until May 8, 2010. After that, he returned to Atlanta. On August 16, 2010, he was again appointed as the Fire Chief of the Atlanta Fire Department.

Disagreement and Legal Challenge

On November 24, 2014, Chief Cochran was suspended for 30 days without pay. This happened because he had shared a book he wrote with some employees. Mayor Kasim Reed felt the book contained views that were not in line with the city's policies.

When he returned from his suspension on January 6, 2015, he was told he needed to resign or he would be fired. Many people supported Chief Cochran. On January 13, a rally was held in Atlanta. Various faith leaders, like Bishop Wellington Boone, attended to show their support.

After Cochran's departure, Deputy Chief Joel Baker took over. He became the acting fire chief of the Atlanta Fire Department.

On February 18, 2015, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of Kelvin Cochran. The legal group Alliance Defending Freedom brought the case. They argued that the City of Atlanta had discriminated against him based on his religious beliefs. The case was called Cochran v. City of Atlanta. It was heard in a U.S. District Court in Georgia. On March 25, the city asked for the case to be dismissed. However, this request was denied. On December 16, 2015, Judge Leigh Martin May ruled that the lawsuit could continue.

Legal Outcome and Settlement

On December 20, 2017, the court made a decision. United States District Court Judge Leigh Martin May said that his firing was legal. This was because he was an "at-will" employee. This means his employment could be ended at any time.

However, the judge also pointed out some issues. She noted that the city's rules about employees needing approval for outside work might limit free speech. These rules also did not clearly define what a conflict of interest was.

The City of Atlanta decided to settle the case. They reviewed all the facts and legal aspects. They concluded that continuing to fight the lawsuit would cost more money. So, they agreed to a $1.2 million payout. This amount included both the settlement for Cochran and his attorneys' fees.

See also

• Atlanta Fire Department
• Lists of African Americans