HomePublicationPasadenaChad Augustin Is Named Pasadena Fire Chief

Chad Augustin Is Named Pasadena Fire Chief

Chad Augustin, a deputy fire chief in Sacramento, will become the Pasadena Fire Department’s leader effective Feb. 22.
The appointment of Augustin, who will oversee 190 full-time employees and an annual department budget of $55.5 million as Pasadena fire chief, was announced recently by the city.
Augustin began his career with the Sacramento Fire Department as a firefighter paramedic and has risen through the ranks over the last 20 years, serving in a wide range of areas. They include training, fire prevention, administration, human resources, professional standards, operations and emergency medical services.

He comes to Pasadena with a diverse background in hazardous materials, urban search and rescue, large-scale emergency/disaster incident management, and development of short- and long-range plans.
As deputy fire chief for the SFD, Augustin is responsible for the department’s Fire Operations and Emergency Medical Services divisions, overseeing the daily operations of 24 fire stations with an annual budget responsibility of $100 million. He has provided leadership in support of high-quality EMS care and transportation, streamlined the emergency response model for ambulance dispatch, and managed cost-recovery efforts and billing improvements.
In February 2020, Augustin was selected for the highly competitive Fire Service Executive Development Institute, a program developed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, to provide new and aspiring chiefs with the tools they need to have successful and productive tenures.
“I am so pleased to have Chief Augustin joining Pasadena as our next fire chief. He has impressive qualifications and well-rounded experience working at a busy urban fire department as well as demonstrated involvement in his community,” said City Manager Steve Mermell. “The chief’s passion for the fire service is infectious, and he has a reputation as being a leader others want to follow. His desire to foster innovation, collaborate with school districts and state and local agencies, and mentor the next generation of fire service leaders will benefit the Pasadena community and Fire Department employees.”
The city retained the services of executive recruiting firm Teri Black & Co. to facilitate the search for a new chief. The firm completed a nationwide search that spanned four months and attracted many well-qualified candidates. During the recruitment process, Pasadena residents were invited to share feedback regarding qualifications and characteristics most important in their new fire chief via the city’s website. Of the 40 applications received, the search firm identified 11 applicants as most qualified based on the established criteria. These applicants then participated in initial screening interviews, and the city manager and the consultant narrowed the field to the top four applicants. These four finalists were interviewed in mid-December by a professional panel of fire chiefs, PFD employees, the assistant city managers and city manager.
Augustin earned a Master of Legal Studies degree from the University of Arizona, graduating magna cum laude; a bachelor’s degree in fire administration from Waldorf University; and a Chief Officer Certification from the California State Board of Fire Services.
He and his wife of 24 years, Sandra, look forward to making Pasadena their home.

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