LACoFD Participates in the Second Annual Sky Tower Challenge

Chief Deputy Jon F. O’Brien has worked as a fire service professional for over 33 years.  Chief O’Brien started his career as a volunteer firefighter with the City of Sierra Madre.  After graduating from high school, he completed paramedic training at the Los Angeles County Paramedic Training Institute and was hired by the City of Monrovia as a full-time firefighter/paramedic until he joined the County of Los Angeles in 1999.

Chief O’Brien has served in several operational and administrative assignments, promoting through the ranks to his current position as Chief Deputy of Emergency Operations.  Along the way, he has worked as a flight medic in the Department’s Air Operations Section, a fire crew supervisor in the Camps Section, a recruit training captain, and a field battalion chief.

In April 2014, Chief O’Brien was assigned to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Bureau and was responsible for the education and training of the Department’s 3,200 emergency medical technicians and 1,250 paramedics.  The following year in November 2015, Chief O’Brien was promoted to assistant fire chief and assigned to Division VI in the Central Regional Operations Bureau.  In July 2017, he returned to the EMS Bureau as Acting Deputy Fire Chief and was officially appointed to Deputy Fire Chief in December 2017.

In April 2020, Chief O’Brien was assigned as deputy fire chief of the North Regional Operations Bureau where he oversaw the cities of Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, and La Cañada Flintridge, as well as the Air and Wildland Division and the Technical Operations Section.  He was also the incident commander of the Department’s Incident Management Team 1.

In October 2022, Chief O’Brien assumed the role of Acting Chief Deputy of Emergency Operations.  On August 23, 2023, Chief O’Brien was officially appointed as Chief Deputy of Emergency Operations. As Chief Deputy, Chief O’Brien serves as second in command and is responsible for overseeing the Fire Department’s three Operations bureaus (North, Central, and East), as well as the Air and Wildland Division and the Lifeguard Division.  Chief O’Brien is also responsible for the Training and Emergency Medical Services Bureau and the Homeland Security Section.

Chief O’Brien received his Associate of Arts degree in Fire Science at Mount San Antonio Community College and his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy and Management at the University of Southern California.  He currently represents the Department on the FIRESCOPE Operations Team and the Los Angeles County Measure B Advisory Committee.

Deputy Fire Chief William L. Mayfield Jr. is a 35-year veteran of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD).  He began his fire service career in 1988 and has held the ranks of firefighter, firefighter specialist, fire captain, battalion chief, and assistant fire chief.  Chief Mayfield was appointed to deputy fire chief in March 2024.

Chief Mayfield currently manages the Training and Emergency Medical Services Bureau.  Emergency medical services is responsible for paramedic training, certification, equipment, quality improvement, and legal aspects for all basic and advanced emergency medical services provided by the LACoFD.  Training Services is responsible for training all new firefighters and conducting ongoing in-service training sessions for all members.  Training Services develops training materials, organizes classes and training programs for recruits and refresher courses for other Department personnel.

Chief Mayfield’s previous assignment was to command and lead the Central Regional Operations Bureau.  In that role, he provided leadership for four divisions, seven battalions, 55 fire stations within 22 cities, and over 1,600 firefighting and lifeguard personnel.  The Lifeguard Division provides water rescue and medical services to 11 cities and consists of specialized and trained professionals who protect Catalina Island and 72 miles of sandy beaches and open water.

As an assistant fire chief, Chief Mayfield managed Division 4 in the East Regional Operations Bureau, consisting of three battalions, 12 cities and 25 fire stations.  Chief Mayfield has been a chief officer for over 18 years.  He has worked multiple operational, administrative, and special assignments throughout his career, including Fire Prevention, Command and Control, and several field commands.

As an incident commander, Chief Mayfield also assists in managing the LACoFD’s Incident Management Team 1.

Julia Kim began her employment with the County of Los Angeles Fire Department in January 2015, and has served in the Professional Performance Section, Employee Relations Division, Risk Management Division, and the Human Resources Division.

Chief Kim was appointed to deputy fire chief of the Administrative Services Bureau in September 2023.

Deputy Fire Chief Mike Inman has worked as a fire service professional for over 40 years.  Chief Inman started his career in 1983, as a reserve firefighter with the Monterey Park Fire Department.  In 1986, he was hired as a firefighter with the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) and has promoted through the ranks as a firefighter, firefighter specialist, fire captain, battalion chief, and assistant fire chief.  Chief Inman was appointed to deputy fire chief in March 2024.

Currently, Chief Inman is assigned to the Special Services Bureau where he leads a team of nearly 300 professional staff with 113 dedicated dispatch personnel dispatching more than 449,000 calls for services each year, 94 professional trades personnel that provide facility maintenance and oversee construction of new and replacement structures for over 260 facilities, and over 55 mechanics responsible for repairing, outfitting, and maintaining a fleet of more than 1,900 Department vehicles and emergency apparatus.  Chief Inman also oversees the LACoFD’s Equipment Development Committee.

Prior the Special Services Bureau, Chief Inman was assigned to the East Regional Operations Bureau where he led and managed four divisions with 1,400 personnel, 10 battalions, and 76 fire stations serving 34 cities.

Well versed in emergency management, Chief Inman became a pioneer in the urban search and rescue program that included several national deployments.  For over 23 years, he has held various incident command system positions as part of the United States Forest Service Type 2 Incident Management Team (IMT) and served as the operations section chief and operations branch director with the Cal Fire Type 1 IMT.  Since 1998, Chief Inman has served in various capacities on the LACoFD Incident Management Teams.

Chief Inman is a certified California State Fire Marshal Chief Officer, and a graduate of the Executive Leadership Development Program and Public Safety Leadership Program at the University of Southern California, Sol Price School of Public Policy.  He teaches FEMA and California Incident Command Certification System courses and is a qualified incident commander, operations section chief, safety officer, and division supervisor.

Over the last several years, Chief Inman has served as the operations section chief for several all-risk and wildland urban interface incidents, including, but not limited to, the Woolsey Fire (2018), Saddle Ridge Fire (2019), Operation Room Key (2020), COVID-19 Mass Vaccinations (2021), and Super Bowl LVI (2022).

Deputy Fire Chief Robert Harris started his career at the age of 19 after he was appointed reserve firefighter with the City of Montebello Fire Department.  Chief Harris began his service with the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) on May 8, 1992.  During his tenure with the LACoFD, he has promoted through the ranks from firefighter to firefighter specialist, fire captain, battalion chief, and assistant fire chief.  Chief Harris served as acting deputy fire chief and was appointed to deputy fire chief of the Central Regional Operations Bureau in June 2024.

Over the years, Chief Harris has attended Dillard University (New Orleans), the University of Southern California, Long Beach Community College, and Compton Community College.  Chief Harris is a graduate of Columbia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Administration.

Throughout his 33 years of service with the LACoFD, Chief Harris has also served as a member of the Department’s international urban search and rescue team.  He has traveled and provided rescue efforts around the globe.  For more than four years, he served as the program manager of our elite rescue team and was the Department’s primary point-of-contact with our State, federal, and international partners.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and riding motorcycles.  Chief Harris has a true passion for mentoring others who are seeking a career in the fire service. He believes in the motto, “each one, reach one”.

Deputy Fire Chief Dennis Breshears started his fire service career at the age of 23 after he was appointed to the Monrovia Fire Department on February 24, 1994.  Chief Breshears then accepted a position with the Orange County Fire Authority in 1999 and began his service with the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) in December of 2000.

Chief Breshears steadily promoted through the ranks from firefighter to firefighter paramedic, firefighter specialist, fire captain, battalion chief, and assistant fire chief.  Chief Breshears was appointed to deputy fire chief in December 2021.

Over the years, Chief Breshears attended Lutheran High School (La Verne, California), Glendale College, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Kaplan University, and California State University, Long Beach.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire and Emergency Management and a Master of Science degree in Emergency Services Administration.

For more than three years, Chief Breshears served as the battalion chief of the Professional Performance Section.  As a captain, he also completed a special assignment as the LACoFD’s incident command system coordinator.  Chief Breshears is a state-certified instructor and Type II Operations Section Chief and Deputy Incident Commander for the LACoFD Incident Management
Team 1.

In June 2021, Chief Breshears was selected to serve on the FIRESCOPE Task Force.  He is currently assigned as the deputy fire chief over the North Regional Operations Bureau.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and restoring classic cars.  While he is very proud of his profession, he considers being a father to three amazing daughters as his greatest accomplishment in life.

As the Chief Deputy of Business Operations, Theresa Barrera oversees the Fire Department’s $1.6 billion budget and provides executive oversight of the Administrative Services, Special Services, and Prevention Services Bureaus, the Planning and Grants and Executive Support Divisions, and the Compliance Office.

Chief Barrera joined the Fire Department in 2004 and served as the Assistant Chief and Chief of the Financial Management Division. In 2022, Chief Barrera was appointed as Deputy Fire Chief of the Administrative Bureau and worked closely with internal and external stakeholders to improve standard business practices, ensure administrative and fiscal compliance, and foster a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve.  On August 23, 2023, Chief Barrera was appointed as the Chief Deputy of Business Operations.

Prior to joining the Fire Department, Chief Barrera held various fiscal positions at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services and Auditor-Controller.  Chief Barrera received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Southern California.

Deputy Fire Chief Eleni Pappas was hired by the County of Los Angeles Fire Department in 2001.  During her tenure with the Department, she has promoted through the ranks from firefighter to fire fighter specialist, fire captain, battalion chief, and assistant fire chief.

Chief Pappas was appointed to the position of deputy fire chief in 2021.  She served in Business Operations leading the Special Services Bureau for three years.  Chief Pappas currently serves in Emergency Operations in the East Regional Operations Bureau.

Chief Pappas holds a Master of Science degree in Emergency Management from California State University at Long Beach.

Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone has been a member of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department for 38 years and a chief officer for the past 26 years.  Prior to his appointment by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors as the tenth Fire Chief and Forester and Fire Warden, Chief Marrone served as the Interim Fire Chief.

Chief Marrone leads one of the largest metropolitan emergency services agencies in the United States, providing traditional fire and life safety services to more than 4.1 million residents and commercial business customers in 60 cities served by the Department, in addition to 120 unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County within its 2,311-square-mile service delivery area.  The Department operates out of 176 fire stations, with 5,000 emergency responders and business professionals operating with an annual budget of just over $1.6 billion.  In addition, the Department provides lifeguard, air and wildland, hazardous materials, homeland security, health hazardous materials, forestry, and urban search and rescue services throughout the County.  The Department’s urban search and rescue team, known internationally as USA-2, is one of only two highly specialized teams available for international response through a cooperative agreement with the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.

Chief Marrone’s well-established career combines broad experience in both emergency and business operations with an extensive list of accomplishments and assignments, including leading and managing Business Operations, the Leadership and Professional Standards Bureau, Special Services Bureau, Emergency Medical Services Bureau, East Regional Operations Bureau, and Central Regional Operations Bureau, in addition to special projects.  He has also directly managed routine and complex wildland fires and other significant all-risk incidents.

During his career with the Department, Chief Marrone has served on the Los Angeles County Emergency Preparedness Commission, the FIRESCOPE Board of Directors, Legal Exposure Reduction Committee, County Emergency Operations Center Team Lead, and as an Incident Commander on one of the Department’s three Incident Management Teams.

Chief Marrone looks forward to collaborating with the Board of Supervisors, labor unions, stakeholder organizations, members of the Department, and the residents and communities we serve, to further stabilize the Department’s budget, increase our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and expand emergency services and community risk reduction programs.

Deputy Fire Chief Vince A. Peña has been with the Los Angeles County Fire Department since 1981.  Chief Peña has held the positions of firefighter, firefighter paramedic, firefighter specialist, fire camp foreman, fire captain, battalion chief, assistant fire chief, deputy fire chief, and acting chief deputy.

As a chief officer, battalion chief assignments have included Battalion 5 in Malibu, Battalion 16 in Covina, Battalion 20 in Inglewood, and Battalion 2 in San Dimas.  He also served as the camp section battalion chief for the paid camps and heavy equipment unit.  As an assistant fire chief, he was assigned to Division 2 in the east San Gabriel Valley and the Air & Wildland Division.

In Chief Peña’s assignment as the deputy fire chief of the North Regional Operations Bureau, he oversaw the cities of Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, and La Cañada Flintridge, as well as the Technical Operations Section and the Air & Wildland Division.  He has also served as operations section chief for the Department on many large wildland incidents and was the incident commander of the Department’s Incident Management Team 1.

Since October 2022, and following his assignment as acting chief deputy, Chief Peña has served as the deputy fire chief over the East Regional Operations Bureau.

Chief Peña attended East Los Angeles College, the University of La Verne, and the Executive Leadership Development Program for the County of Los Angeles.  He also instructs incident command courses for the Fire Department and throughout the country.

Deputy Fire Chief Thomas C. Ewald has served in the professional fire services for 35 years. Chief Ewald started his career as a firefighter with the City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa Fire Department in 1986. While working in the Midwest, he attended community college and completed paramedic training. Chief Ewald joined the Los Angeles County Fire Department in 1992 where he rose through the ranks serving as firefighter, paramedic, captain, battalion chief, and assistant chief.

Chief Ewald has served as a firefighter paramedic at Universal Studios and West Hollywood; a fire inspector in East Los Angeles; an apparatus engineer in Carson and Pomona; an engine company captain in Southgate and South Los Angeles; a staff captain for the Central Regional Operations Bureau Deputy; a field battalion chief in El Monte, Commerce, Palos Verdes; the chief of Technical Operations, overseeing local, national and international Urban Search and Rescue Operations; assistant chief in Division I, covering the South Bay and Catalina Island, and as the assistant chief, overseeing the Air and Wildland Division.

During his career, Chief Ewald has been called upon to respond to manmade and natural disasters across the county and worldwide with notable incidents, including Hurricane Katrina (New Orleans), Hurricane Dean (Belize), Cyclone Nargis (Camp H.S. Smith Hawaii), 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (Ofunato) , 2011 New Zealand Earthquake (Christchurch) and 2015 Typhoon Maysak (Micronesia).

In December 2017, Chief Ewald was promoted to the rank of Deputy Fire Chief where he oversaw the Department’s Special Services Bureau consisting of three divisions: Fleet Services, Command and Control, and Construction & Maintenance.

On April 1, 2021, Chief Ewald’s tour of duty ended at Special Services and he assumed command of the Central Regional Operations Bureau. By October 2022, Chief Ewald was then assigned to oversee the North Regional Operations Bureau.

Chief Ewald holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Prevention Administration from Cogswell Polytechnical College and a Master of Science degree in Leadership from the University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy. In 2018, Chief Ewald attended the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Chief Ewald is a qualified Type 2 Incident Commander and Type 2 Operation Section Chief and provides leadership to the Department’s Incident Management Team Two.

Chief Ewald resides in Southern California with his wife and four children.

Commonly known as the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County (CFPD) is a dependent special district.  As a dependent special district, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors acts as the CFPD’s board of directors.  Fire protection districts are governed by the Fire Protection District Law of 1987 (Health & Safety Code, Section 13800 et al).  The CFPD has the additional responsibilities for the Forester & Fire Warden (F&FW).  In 1992, the duties of the F&FW were assigned to the CFPD and those responsibilities are found in the Los Angeles County Code 2.20.

The CFPD has a civilian oversight committee that annually reviews expenditures of the CFPD’s special tax to ensure it is expended in the manner approved by voters in 1997.  Authority for the oversight committee is found in the establishing resolution for the special tax.  The committee has seven members, one each appointed by each member of the Board of Supervisors, one appointed by the City Selection committee, and the director of the Los Angeles County Economy and Efficiency Committee.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Bureau was created in ____ ____, to address the growing EMS needs across the County. In total, EMS 9-1-1 calls comprise nearly 85 percent of the Department’s responses. The Department is committed to providing prompt, clinically skilled, and caring medical service to ensure positive outcomes for everyone, every time.