Fire Chief Kenneth Silva has received the highest possible rating in an annnual performance review conducted by the Honolulu Fire Commission, the fire department said today.

The evaluation, Silva's third, noted that he has continued to improve fire and emergency services and demonstrated exemplary performance.

In evaluating Silva's performance, the commission considered effectiveness, competence, attitude, morale, integrity and other traits. Silva scored the highest possible rating for leadership qualities with an aggregate average score of 5.

"Chief Silva continues to demonstrate he is an outstanding leader," fire commission chair Elizabeth Ho noted in the Feb. 18 report.

The report goes on to say, "Chief Silva exudes great confidence and competence in his leadership, and this translates into positive attitude and morale within the Fire Department."

In a statement, Mayor Mufi Hannemann said, "I am proud of the manner in which chief Silva leads our firefighters and I certainly concur with the results of his latest evaluation."

The report also noted the efforts of Deputy Fire Chief Alvin Tomita and Assistant chiefs Eric Adams Jr., Rolland Harvest, Manuel Neves and Thomas Perkins.

Silva assumed command of the fire department in January 2006. He joined the department in 1981 and worked his way through the ranks as a firefighter, fire captain, battalion chief and assistant chief.