Rocco Forte
Rocco Forte retired from the Minneapolis Fire Department in 2004 after 30 years of service. He served as Fire Chief for the City of Minneapolis the last 6 years of his career, and the 9 years prior to that he served as Assistant Chief. As Fire Chief, he earned the Chief Fire Officer Designation by the Commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation. This designation is granted to fire service professionals who have demonstrated through their education, leadership and management skills that they possess the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the fire and emergency services professions.
Rocco is currently the Assistant City Coordinator, Emergency Preparedness and Regulatory Services for the City of Minneapolis. In addition to his duties managing the regulatory operations of the city, his primary responsibility is to establish and maintain the emergency preparedness framework for the City — prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. This includes maintaining the City’s Emergency Operations Plan, coordination of City planning and preparation for disaster, emergency response training, including development of emergency response plans for all City departments in coordination with other local, county, state and federal government agencies. He is the principal liaison and coordinator for the City with other local, county, state and federal jurisdictions relevant to any emergency declaration. Mr. Forte represents the Mayor and City Council in emergency preparedness communications.
Rocco commanded the Emergency Operations Center for the 10 days it was operational following the collapse of the I35W Bridge.
Quote from the Minneapolis Star Tribune on August 8, 2007 . . . As the emergency response has drawn plaudits from sources as high as President Bush, Forte has emerged as the city’s indispensable man in crisis. Listen to what Mayor R.T. Rybck said two days after the collapse: “To be able to walk into the command center and know that Rocco would be able to direct the scheme of this plan has meant everything to this city. You have not seen him on television. You have not heard him quoted in the paper. That’s because Rocco has been downstairs hour after hour directing this remarkable team.”
Rocco is a life-long resident of Minneapolis (a graduate of Patrick Henry High School and the Carlson School of Business). He is deeply committed to the safety of our citizens.