HELEN E. JO More photos >>

           Deputy Chief Helen Jo joined the Los Angeles County Fire Department in 1998 and is both the first woman and Korean-American in the Department’s 85-year history to reach this executive level rank. She currently oversees the Department’s Administrative Services Bureau, which manages Human Resources, Financial Management, Materials Management, and Organizational Development. These divisions are responsible for the Department’s hiring and payroll responsibilities; budgetary and expenditure activities; the procurement and acquisition of vehicles, telecommunication equipment, and all supplies and services; and management of employee training and development.

Deputy Chief Jo began with her career with the Department as a budget officer, promoting to Chief of the Financial Management Division in 2002, and then to Deputy Chief in April 2008. When Chief Jo first joined our Department, she was interested in becoming a firefighter, but she soon realized that her contributions behind the scenes were equally valuable to the Department. Prior to working for our Department, she worked for the County of Los Angeles Department of Auditor-Controller.