Iowa City Fire Chief Andy Rocca announced on Feb. 15 he will retire from the Fire Department on May 13.

According to a city press release, Rocca, an Iowa City native, joined the Iowa City Fire Department in 1978. He was named fire chief in 1996.

As Fire Chief, Rocca currently oversees a 65-member department, and all Fire Department and emergency operations, the release said.

Under Rocca’s leadership, the Fire Department has received a number of accolades including being awarded Accredited Agency Status by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

“The city has been extremely fortunate to have benefited from someone of Chief Rocca’s caliber for nearly 35 years,” City Manager Tom Markus said in the release. “He is a consummate professional, and his impact on the Iowa City Fire Department and this community will be forever lasting. We will greatly miss his leadership, but we congratulate him and wish him and his family the best in the many years ahead.”