Pittsburgh Council Confirms Three New Department Directors
The city moves forward with permanent leadership appointments for the fire bureau and key administrative departments.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in People
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Pittsburgh City Council has officially confirmed the appointments of new leaders for the fire bureau, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Department of Innovation and Performance. Mat Davis, Rea Price, and Sylvia Harris have transitioned from their acting roles to assume permanent control of these departments.
Why it matters
These appointments come as the city works to stabilize its leadership following the retirement of former fire chief Darryl Jones. The new directors face the immediate challenge of addressing a significant budget gap through increased fiscal oversight and resource audits.
The city is moving to purchase 13 new fire trucks, a process that faces wait times of around four years. These acquisitions are funded by a portion of $55 million in private donations provided by UPMC and Highmark.
The players
Mat Davis
He is the newly appointed Pittsburgh fire chief who previously served as the assistant chief of community risk reduction.
Rea Price
She is the director of the Office of Management and Budget who brings over 14 years of experience as a senior budget analyst and manager.
Sylvia Harris
She is the director of the Department of Innovation and Performance and has been a city employee since 2008.
Darryl Jones
He is the former Pittsburgh fire chief whose retirement in September led to the recent departmental leadership transition.
The details
Mat Davis, who has served as assistant chief of community risk reduction since 2023, now leads the fire bureau, while Rea Price and Sylvia Harris take over the budget and innovation departments respectively. Harris is currently initiating an asset inventory of city technology, while Price intends to bring in consultants to review municipal spending and contracts.
Timeline
2004: Mat Davis launched his firefighting career in Dormont.
2008: Sylvia Harris began working for the city.
June 2026: An investigation into former fire chief Darryl Jones began.
July 2026: The city filed an antitrust lawsuit against fire truck manufacturers.
October 27, 2026: City Council confirmed the three department directors.
Market Landscape
These appointments fit into the broader municipal strategy to reform administrative operations ahead of the 2027 spending plan. By shifting to permanent leadership, the city aims to standardize oversight and asset management across its departments in response to current fiscal constraints.
Residents may see changes to administrative efficiency as the new directors begin auditing city spending and resources to close the current budget gap. These leadership changes are intended to streamline city services and manage the procurement of essential infrastructure like new fire equipment.
The takeaway
Effective municipal management relies on permanent leadership to navigate complex budget cycles and long-term procurement challenges. Residents should monitor upcoming budget hearings for updates on how these departmental shifts impact the city's fiscal health.
What happens next
The city plans to adopt a 2027 spending plan by the end of the year.
Further reading
For more on local leadership changes, visit the Pittsburgh People section.
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