To: Board of Directors
From: Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Report Title: APPOINTMENT OF AARON J. MCALISTER AS FIRE CHIEF - CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPOINT Aaron J. McAlister as Fire Chief of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (the "District") at Step 5 of the salary range ($26,624.71/month), including all benefits as provided in the Fire Management Resolution that apply to the position of Fire Chief, and including all vacation and personal holiday leave accruals equivalent to 20 total years of service, effective upon adoption.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of this position for the remainder of the fiscal year is approximately $79,324 with the total ongoing cost projected at $634,595 annually. Funding for this position is included in the District operating budget.
BACKGROUND:
In anticipation of the scheduled retirement of Fire Chief Lewis Broschard III in March 2026, the Board of Directors launched an executive recruitment facilitated by Peckham & McKenney, a public-sector executive recruiting firm, on Monday, February 23rd for a four-week period ending on March 20, 2026. Following the recruitment period, the District convened an interview panel on April 22, 2026 composed of Board Chairperson Diane Burgis, Director Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County Administrator Monica Nino, IAFF Local 1230 President Vince Wells and Santa Clara County Fire Chief Suwanna Kerdkaew to review qualified applicants. Today's action recommends the appointment of Deputy Fire Chief Aaron J. McAlister as Fire Chief effective immediately following adoption.
Aaron J. McAlister has over 30 years of experience in the fire service and has served the District since 2016 - most recently as Deputy Fire Chief of Administration, overseeing Communications/Fire Dispatch, Information Systems, Support Services, Finance, and Human Resources. Prior to that, he serv...
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