GARY REESE was named the new chief of the Kansas City (MO) Fire Department (KCFD). Reese is a 23-year veteran of the KCFD. City manager Troy Schulte made the announcement at an event celebrating the KCFD’s 150th anniversary. Reese takes over from former chief Paul Berardi, who retired in November 2017 after 32 years with the department. KCFD Deputy Chief Donna Maize will move to City Hall to become assistant city manager for public safety, replacing Mike Schumacher, who vacated the role to become Chief Administrator in Lebanon, Missouri.
STEVE STANDRIDGE assumed command as the new chief of Chico (CA) Fire Rescue (CFR). Standridge, who was previously the emergency management bureau chief for city of Denver, Colorado, takes over CFR as its staffing levels are the lowest they’ve been since the 1990s. In addition, two Chico fire stations recently closed. This is Standridge’s first job as chief. He replaces former CFR Chief Bill Hack, who resigned in August 2017 after 20 years of working for the city.
BILL HACK was hired as the new fire chief for the cities of Rocklin and Lincoln, California. He will begin his new duties on August 21. Hack is a 20-plus-year fire service veteran and the former chief for the Chico (CA) Fire Department (CFD). He will follow Chief Kurt Snyder, who is retiring in September. Hack began his firefighting career in 1994 with Cal-Fire before being hired in 1995 with the CFD, where he rose through the ranks from firefighter to chief. Hack has also owned and operated a hazardous materials consulting company, has taught at Butte Community College, and has a degree in policy analysis and planning from the University of California-Davis.
JOHN F. SULLIVAN took over as the new chief of the Brookline (MA) Fire Department on March 26 after serving more than 30 years with the Worcester (MA) Fire Department (WFD), where he was most recently deputy chief of operations for the past eight years. Sullivan was present at some of the WFD’s most seminal moments, including the Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. fire on December 3, 1999, where he led the search for two of the six firefighters that perished that evening.
MIKE STANLEY was selected as the new chief of the Oshkosh (WI) Fire Department by the city’s Police and Fire Commission. Stanley is a 20-year emergency services veteran and a former commander with Aurora (CO) Fire Rescue. He’s also an instructor for the National Fire Academy and the United States Department of Homeland Security. Stanley takes over the position from former Chief Tim Franz, who is retiring.
