Sayville Fire Chief Donald Corkery Named President of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs

Sayville Fire Department Chief Donald J. Corkery was installed as president of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC) during the 108th Annual Conference & FIRE 2014 Expo Installation Ceremony on June 14 at the Turning Stone Resort Showroom in Verona, N.Y. He will serve a one-year term leading the organization.

Corkery began his fire service career with the Wyandanch Fire Company in 1969. He moved to Sayville and joined Resolute Hose Co. #1 of the Sayville Fire Department in 1972. In 1976 Corkery started the progression as a line officer and was elected as a lieutenant and then captain of his company. He was elected assistant chief in 1981 and then became acting chief in 1984. 

Corkery served as chief of the department from 1985-1987. He also served as president of the Islip Town Fire Chiefs Council and Suffolk County Fire Chiefs Council. In 1982, Corkery was appointed a deputy fire coordinator for Suffolk County and later served as the chief deputy fire coordinator between 1992 and 2005. Additionally, he served as deputy commissioner of Suffolk County Fire/Rescue and Emergency Services in 2005.

His salaried career was with the Long Island Rail Road, starting as a “fireman” on a locomotive and then becoming a locomotive engineer. Corkery worked in the Training Division for 25 years, and retired as the director of training in 2004. In addition to training LIRR employees, his responsibilities included training firefighters from FDNY and Nassau and Suffolk Counties on railroad safety. Corkery was also an instructor for the Suffolk County Fire Academy. Today, he is an active member of his department and serves as a safety officer. Corkery is currently serving his sixth 5-year term as a fire commissioner.

A member of NYSAFC since 1980, he served on the Public Education, Codes, Life Safety, and Conference Committees for 18 years.