Today, a bright, warm day on the San Francisco Bay Peninsula, City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz announced that Ray Iverson has been selected as the new Chief of Redwood City Fire Department, which serves about 120,000 people in Redwood City and its neighboring community of San Carlos, effective June 7, 2021.
Teri Black & Co., LLC, is proud to have managed the recruitment on behalf of the City, conducting a nationwide search that ended close by at San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department, where Iverson is currently Chief.
“Ray is a highly competent and experienced fire service leader and I am very pleased that he will be joining our team,” said Diaz in a City media release. “His deep background in fire prevention is welcome as both Redwood City and San Carlos experience strong development interest. His collaborative leadership style and strategic thinking will help us reimagine services to meet evolving community needs and to support financial sustainability.”
The Department provides advanced life support, emergency medical services, fire operations, fire prevention, disaster preparedness, and community-based training services, so of course longtime experience in managing those operations was critical to the selection process. In addition, the Redwood City City Council has adopted Equity as a Foundational Guiding Principle and the City is currently developing an Equity Plan to infuse equity in City operations and policy.
“I look forward to Ray’s leadership in increasing diversity in the Fire Department and advancing the City’s commitment to equity and inclusion,” said Diaz.
According to the media release, Iverson has been a member of the California Fire Service profession since 1991, with both public and private sector experience in fire service at City of San Mateo Fire, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, City of Benicia Fire Department, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, City of Vacaville Fire, Union City, and American Canyon Fire Protection District.
Ray earned a BS in Fire Administration from Columbia Southern University and an Associate of Fire Technology degree from Solano Community College, as well as numerous professional certifications. He is also currently working on his masters degree in Public Administration (MPA) program.
“Redwood City is the heart of San Mateo County! I welcome the opportunity to make a positive impact on the communities of Redwood City and San Carlos,” said Iverson.
Iverson is currently president for the International Fire Service Foundation and an Adjunct Faculty member for City College of San Francisco. He lives in San Mateo.
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