Assistant Deputy Chief (ADC) James O’Connell began his career with the SFFD in September of 1995. ADC O’Connell promoted through the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain, and Battalion Chief. He was appointed Assistant Deputy Chief of Support Services in May 2026.

ADC O’Connell spent the last nine years serving as a Battalion Chief at Battalion 5 when it reopened in January of 2019.

He has served both as the Co-Chair and Chair of the Emergency Water Supply Committee as well as being a long-standing Member of the Department’s Disaster Committee and Funeral Committee. He graduated with a B.A. in Economics from UC Berkeley.

ADC O’Connell resides in San Francisco with his wife and three sons.