Pick for next San Diego Fire Chief unanimously approved by city council

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Mayor Todd Gloria's pick for the next San Diego Fire-Rescue Chief, current Deputy Fire Chief Robert Logan II, was unanimously approved by the city council on Monday, setting up his swearing in for next month.

Gloria announced the appointment last month following a three-month, nationwide search to find Fire Chief Colin Stowell's successor. Stowell will be retiring from duty in August after six years in the role and 36 years with the department.

As Logan approached the speaker stand for his remarks prior to Monday's vote, the council chamber erupted into a boisterous applause for the deputy fire chief, who currently oversees the department's Employee Services.

"Mayor Gloria, I am deeply humbled my your appointment of me as Fire Chief," Logan said during the meeting. "I am truly honored to have your trust Mayor Gloria, and the trust of the department and our residents and visitors."

He also went on to thank Stowell for his leadership over the years and his mentorship in preparation to serve in the position of chief.

A lifelong San Diegan who grew up in Council District 4, Logan has been with SDFD for more than two decades, starting as an Emergency Medical Technician in 1999 before becoming a firefighter in 2000 and rising through the ranks to Deputy Fire Chief.

"The child of a 16-year-old, single mother who struggled with many of the major issues we struggle with in the fire service today — drug addiction, poverty and homelessness," Logan said on Monday. "I grew up in a system with no path to success for youth like me."

"Despite the overwhelming road blocks I faced, I developed resilience, resolve, a commitment for service, and a true understanding of our community's diverse needs and realities," he added.

Prior to his current deputy post, he served as the deputy fire chief of Special Operations, which includes air operations, the Metro Arson Strike Team and Hazardous Incident Response Team, according to the city.

Logan has carried a strong reputation in SDFD for team building, fostering positive community-government relations and championing efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion — something that was evident in Monday's glowing public comment.

Among his efforts to further these goals includes co-founding Lincoln High School’s Fire Protection Program, an academic program designed to introduce students to potential careers in fire service, and bringing a California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee Pre-Apprenticeship EMT program to the county.

He is also an active member of “Women In Fire,” a national organization that aims to empower women in fire and emergency services fields through training, advocacy and networking.

In his remarks Monday, Logan touched on how he hopes to expand these efforts within the department, saying his vision is to develop a fire workforce reflecting the community. He also committed to increasing transparency and open collaboration with communities to "address unique, evolving needs" while leveraging new innovations to better the department's services.

According to city officials, Logan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from southern New Hampshire University, a Master’s in Emergency Services Management from Columbia Southern University and an Executive Chief Fire Officer certification.

“Having grown up in San Diego and served the Fire-Rescue Department for nearly the past quarter-century, Deputy Chief Robert Logan has a deep understanding and genuine love for this city,” Mayor Todd Gloria said in a statement. “He has a clear vision for how he’ll lead the department into its next chapter, and I’m excited to work with him to keep San Diegans safe.” 

With Monday's vote, Logan will be sworn in next month once Stowell's retirement becomes effective. "Now let's get to work," Logan said in his remarks.