On Friday, February 27, 2026, County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone announced the appointment of Derrick J. Chapman as deputy fire chief assigned to the Leadership and Professional Standards Bureau.
Chief Chapman is a 30-year fire service veteran who joined the County of Los Angeles Fire Department in February 1999. Throughout his career, he has promoted through the ranks to include firefighter specialist, fire captain, battalion chief, and assistant fire chief. Most recently, he led the Training Services Division for three years.
Chief Chapman is a Task Force Leader for FEMA CA-TF2 and USAID/BHA USA-2, with international deployments to Haiti, New Zealand, and Nepal, alongside numerous national responses. He serves as a UN instructor in search and rescue management, a trainee Operations Section Chief for a CAL FIRE Incident Management Team, serves on the FIRESCOPE Task Force, and is the Chair of the Equipment Development Committee, where he has contributed for over 20 years.
Chief Chapman holds an Associate’s degree in Fire Science from Long Beach City College, a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from California State University Long Beach, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Leadership from Arizona State University.
“I am honored to continue serving the members of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department and the communities we protect at the rank of deputy fire chief,” said Derrick Chapman. “I’m excited for the leadership opportunities ahead and proud of where our organization is today. As we prepare for major global events like the FIFA World Cup and the LA28 Olympic Games, I look forward to working alongside our incredible personnel to ensure we remain ready, resilient, and focused on service.”
The LACoFD commends Chief Chapman for his unwavering service and congratulates him on this well-deserved appointment.
