New Chief, Deputy Chief Sworn In To Lead Aurora Fire Department

AURORA, IL — Two new men have been appointed to lead the Aurora Fire Department. Chief David McCabe and Deputy Chief Dan Osman were sworn in by Mayor Richard Irvin Tuesday.

City Council voted on both appointments during a special meeting that followed a regular Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday evening.

McCabe replaces former Chief Gary Krienitz who served as the 17th chief of the Aurora Fire Department. Following the swearing-in ceremony, Krienitz officially retired after a 25-year career — six as chief — with the department.

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Prior to chief, McCabe served as deputy chief, a role he was appointed to in 2020. Before then, he rose through the ranks to be lieutenant, captain, battalion chief and assistant chief of support services.

"The men and women of the Aurora Fire Department are some of the best in the business, and I look forward to leading them through the next few years," McCabe said at Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony.

A member of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, McCabe is the former president of the Kane County Fire Chiefs Association.

Outside of the department, the new chief has also been a basketball official for the Illinois High School Association for more than 30 years, according to Clayton Muhammad, Aurora's chief communications officer.

As the department's second-in-command, Osman has had a similar career trajectory to McCabe's within the Aurora Fire Department. He served as lieutenant, captain and battalion chief before he was promoted in 2019 to assistant chief of operations, the position he most recently held.

Osman is also the president of the Aurora Fire Officers Association.

Before starting with the Aurora department, Osman had a career in the United States Marine Corps, where he served across the world in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, according to Muhammad.

For 22 years, the deputy chief also coordinated the Aurora Firefighters Toy Drive, which has provided more than 7,000 toys to Aurora children, Muhammad said.

"Mayor, one more thing," Osman said Tuesday. "Last week you said that with the retirement of Chief Gary Krienitz, there are big shoes to fill. Challenge accepted."