As Miami-Dade County's Fire Chief, Herminio Lorenzo oversees the largest fire-rescue department in the southeastern United States, with an annual operating budget of more than $432 million. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue  (MDFR) is staffed by more than 2,500 employees, nearly 2,100 of whom are uniformed firefighters. The men and women of MDFR serve more than 1.6 million residents, businesses and visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
 
Fire Chief Lorenzo is a 35-year South Florida fire-rescue veteran. He established his career as a firefighter and moved through the ranks to Fire Chief at the City of Hialeah. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of the Fire Rescue and Emergency Services Department in Broward County. He also served as Director of the Fire Rescue and Beach Safety Department for the City of Hollywood. In addition, he has worked as the equivalent of an Assistant County Manager for Broward County, where he oversaw six major county departments.
 
Fire Chief Lorenzo has been recognized for excellence in fire-rescue service administration. As a fire-rescue professional, Fire Chief Lorenzo has extensive management experience in the area of coordinated service delivery among municipal partners in light of annexation and incorporations.
 
Fire Chief Lorenzo is a longtime Miami-Dade County resident. He graduated from Miami Dade College, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Barry University, and earned a Master of Science in Management from St. Thomas of Villanova University. He served honorably in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division.