Kelvin Cochran Joins Steve Pettit to Discuss His Work With Alliance Defending Freedom

Highest Potential with Steve Pettit

In 1981, Cochran began his career as a firefighter with the Shreveport Fire Department in Louisiana. After multiple promotions, he was appointed fire chief in 1999.

In 2008, he was appointed fire chief of the City of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department. The following year, President Barack Obama appointed him United States Fire Administrator. Cochran was re-appointed by Mayor Kasim Reed as Fire Chief of the City of Atlanta in 2010. He later served for five years as Chief Operating Officer of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

In his personal capacity, Cochran wrote a book for a men’s Bible study at his church which referenced traditional marriage. A lawsuit was brought against him and he was fired from his role as Atlanta fire chief even though an investigation revealed no evidence of discrimination. ADF represented Chief Cochran in a suit filed against the city in federal court to protect his rights, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and protest his unjust termination. In October 2018, the city of Atlanta agreed to pay Cochran $1.2 million in the wake of a federal court ruling in his favor.