Two veteran firefighters will fill key positions at the Aurora Fire Department.

Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner and incoming Aurora Fire Chief Gary Krienitz have recommended Battalion Chief John Gilbert take the position of deputy chief and Capt. Javan Cross to take over as fire marshal. The appointments will be considered by the Aurora City Council for approval on Tuesday, March 8.

“We are committed to keeping dedicated and proven leaders at the head of our public safety departments,” Weisner said. “As we thank and bid farewell to Chief John Lehman and Deputy Chief Tom Greiner who are both retiring, we welcome Chief-Elect Gary Krienitz and two more longtime leaders in the fire department to key positions that will help move the department forward while providing the best service to the residents of Aurora.”

John Gilbert (left) and Javan Cross.

Serving the Aurora Fire Department for the past 27 years, Gilbert began as a firefighter/paramedic in 1989. In 2003, he was promoted to lieutenant and in 2010 he was promoted to Captain where he was the Commanding Officer of Engine and Medic 5. In 2014, Gilbert assumed his current role as Battalion Chief.

Recommended for Fire Marshal, the position that will be vacated by Krienitz as he assumes the role of Chief, is Captain Javan Cross. A 1991 graduate of East Aurora High School, Cross has served in the Aurora Fire Department for 18 years. Beginning as a firefighter/paramedic in1997, Cross also became a fire investigator in 2004. He served in those dual roles until 2009 when he was promoted to Lieutenant.  Five years later in 2014 he was promoted to his current position as Captain.

“I have had the honor of knowing John and Javan for many years and I am looking forward to working with them to lead the Aurora Fire Department,” said incoming Chief Gary Krienitz. “They are both stalwart leaders in fire safety who will bring new and innovative ideas to the table.”

SOURCE: city of Aurora news release

About the City of Aurora, IL

Located 35 miles west of Chicago, Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois with a population of 200,456. Aurora is known as the “City of Lights” because it was one of the first in the nation to illuminate its streets with electric lights.  Situated along the Fox River and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88), the city extends 46 square miles encompassing Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will counties.  Aurora also is home to six public school districts and seven townships. For the latest news, access to an archive of past news releases or to follow the city on Facebook or Twitter, visit the city’s website at www.aurora-il.org.

About the Aurora Fire Department

The mission of the Aurora Fire Department to provide essential fire suppression, special operations, and emergency medical services, to provide a unified professional response to life and property incidents and to maintain and enforce an updated and continuing inspections program to enforce adopted codes and to supply quality fire prevention and education programs to the citizens of Aurora.