LAWA WELCOMES NEW LAFD ASSISTANT CHIEF ELISE BRODOWY AS LIAISON TO LAX AND VNY AIRPORTS

(Los Angeles, CA) Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Battalion Chief  Elise "Nikki" Brodowy was recently appointed as Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Liaison alongside her promotion to Assistant Chief. In her new role, Assistant Chief Brodowy will oversee all LAFD operations at Los Angeles International (LAX) and Van Nuys (VNY) general aviation airports, including emergency response and coordination between LAFD and other first responders operating at both airports. As an LAFD veteran, Chief Brodowy brings 24 years of leadership and administrative experience to her position, which will be applied to matters of public safety and airport security.

"Chief Brodowy is one of the most experienced officers in the Los Angeles Fire Department, and we're incredibly lucky to have her serve as LAWA liaison alongside our dedicated groups of first responders," said Patrick M. Gannon, Deputy Executive Director for Homeland Security and Law Enforcement, LAWA. "Her track record of professionalism and dedication to her duty will be a great addition to the excellent work provided by LAFD staff at LAX and VNY each day."

"Assistant Chief Brodowy brings a wealth of experience to her new post as the Los Angeles Fire Department's liaison to LAWA," said Ralph Terrazas, Chief, LAFD. "She will be an excellent bridge between the LAFD and the fire and emergency medical services required by the entire LAWA community." 

Chief Brodowy's 24 years of experience includes a variety of operational and administrative assignments. She has served in the positions of Firefighter/Paramedic, Fire Inspector, Fire Captain, EMS Battalion Captain and Battalion Chief prior to her appointment to Assistant Chief. In one of her field assignments Brodowy served as EMS Battalion Captain, in which she was responsible for overseeing all of the battalion’s medical operations while liaising with service area hospitals and other medical facilities. In another of Brodowy’s field assignments as a Battalion Chief, she was responsible for leading, managing and supervising the operational and administrative duties of over 100 personnel housed within six fire stations in South Los Angeles. Chief Brodowy has also served as the Internal Affairs Commander of the Professional Standards Division and the Executive Officer to the Chief Deputy of Administrative Operations.

"I’m excited to bring my experience and training to this new role as the LAFD liaison to LAX and VNY, two of the busiest airports in the nation for commercial and general aviation,” said Elise Brodowy, Assistant Chief, LAFD. "Airports present unique firefighting challenges and I am looking forward to working with our LAFD team, LAWA and all of our partners to provide exceptional service and response in support of our airports and the surrounding communities.”

Chief Brodowy was recently honored by the City of Los Angeles as the 2018 “Pioneer Woman of the Year” for her innovative work in creating a Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Awareness Training program specifically for Fire/EMS First Responders. She also served as the Gender Equity Liaison to the Mayor’s Office and developed the LAFD’s Gender Equity Action Plan in 2016. She is passionate about increasing the diversity within the department while at the same time seeing the work environment become more inclusive and positive for all members. She sits on the executive board of the Los Angeles Women in the Fire Service and is the only female Assistant Chief currently on the LAFD.

Chief Brodowy holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education with a Teaching/Coaching emphasis with a minor in Sports Medicine.