Fire Chiefs

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The League of California CitiesFire Chiefs Department works to improve municipal fire service by protecting local control, advancing educational opportunities, and framing issues impacting cities with a fire chief’s perspective. Members of this department include fire chiefs of municipal fire departments, or agencies, authorities, or districts that serve cities, and all fire chief officers who are interested in advancing their leadership skill set and developing a professional network are invited to participate.

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Department Officers

The Fire Chiefs Department is made up of municipal fire service leadership who represent departments that provide direct fire service to cities: five executive leaders, eight policy committee members, and additional "at-large" members who contribute to conference planning, research, and representing the League on various state and local advisory committees.

Each year, the Fire Chiefs Department elects officers to oversee the work of the department and represent the department on the League's board of directors and other League policy committees. Fire Chiefs who are interested in pursuing a leadership role with the League should contact Meghan McKelvey.

2022-2023 Department Officers

President - Alexander Hamilton, Fire Chief, Oxnard
First Vice President - Dave Spencer, Fire Chief, Auburn
Second Vice President - Recruiting
Director - Dan Stefano, Fire Chief, Costa Mesa
Past President - Jeff Boyles, Fire Chief, Newport Beach

*Terms are for one year, ending in September, except the director who serves a two-year term.

Policy Committee Representatives

Appointed by the department president, each department has at least one representative on each of Cal Cities' standing seven policy committees that can provide technical information to the committee as a whole to ensure that the department has a voice in the decision-making process, and make recommendations to the board of directors on legislative and policy issues.

2023 Policy Committee Representatives

Community Services – Vacant
Environmental Quality – Jarrod Vanlandingham, Fire Chief, Redding
Governance, Transparency and Labor Relations – Vacant
Housing, Community and Economic Development – Chris Nigg, Fire Chief, La Verne
Public Safety – Mike Calderwood, Fire Chief, Carlsbad
Revenue and Taxation –Steve Pendergrass, Fire Chief, Hanford
Transportation, Communication and Public Works – Greg Barton, Fire Chief, Beverly Hills

For more information about the appointment process, please contact Meg Desmond.

Useful Links

Fire chiefs provide a link between city government and fire service organizations including:

Regulatory working groups, task forces, and committees

Cal Cities holds a number of appointments to various state and regional regulatory bodies. If you are interested in serving on behalf of Cal Cities, please contact earcidiacono@calcities.org.

Statewide Training and Education Advisory Committee (STEAC)