Meet Chief Leon Henderson

Chief Henderson joined the Akron Fire Department in 1990 as a firefighter/paramedic. He subsequently served as a dispatch supervisor, lieutenant, captain/safety officer, district chief, and deputy chief before being appointed Fire Chief in 2024.
 

As Fire Chief, he provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for more than 400 firefighters and emergency service professionals and a budget of approximately $100 million. In 2026, he led the first comprehensive modernization of the department’s Rules and Regulations and Standard Operating Procedures in more than 20 years, strengthening accountability, safety, operational consistency, and organizational readiness.
 

Chief Henderson also oversaw the completion of Akron’s newest fire station and has supported the development of fire prevention and education programs serving local businesses and Akron Public Schools. Throughout his career, he has led major initiatives to improve emergency communications and operational effectiveness, including the implementation of a consolidated computer-aided dispatch system and advancements in the department’s emergency alerting capabilities.
 

Committed to adaptive leadership, emotional intelligence, strategic planning, diversity, and creating opportunities for others, Chief Henderson has served on the City of Akron’s Social Justice Task Force, launched the Akron Fire Department Human Relations Committee, and helped develop a collaborative recruitment initiative involving city departments and community organizations.
 

His extensive education and professional training include programs through Harvard University, the National Fire Academy, FEMA, and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. He is also a state-certified fire inspector and instructor and a certified rescue diver.