The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department’s new top chain of command was finalized Aug. 26 with the City Council voting unanimously to confirm Percy Golden II as chief and director, Jacob Blanton as deputy chief and Molesha Cooke as chief of the rescue division.
All three confirmations came on 17-0 votes, with Council members Terrance Freeman and Jimmy Peluso out on an excused absence.
Mayor Donna Deegan nominated Golden in June to succeed Keith Powers as the department’s head.
Golden, who had served as emergency preparedness division deputy chief, has served with the department for 21 years.
Golden graduated from Florida State College of Jacksonville with an associate’s degree in 2007 and from Southern Columbia University this year with a bachelor’s degree.
Blanton has served with JFRD for 30 years, most recently as chief of the rescue division. He also served as a battalion chief and firefighter for 19 years and a 911 operator for three.
Cooke has served as a fire rescue captain since 2009. She holds four degrees, including a doctor of nursing practice from the University of Central Florida.
The votes for Golden, Blanton and Cooke came on resolutions 2025-0541, 2025-0542 and 2025-0543, respectively.