Fire Chief Alex Hamilton started his career with the Oxnard Fire Department as a Firefighter in 2005. He was promoted to Fire Engineer in 2010, promoted to Fire Captain in 2012, Battalion Chief in 2016, Assistant Chief in 2017 and Fire Chief in 2021. He previously worked as a volunteer Firefighter in Australia, where he grew up. Assistant Chief Hamilton is currently completing his MBA with Pepperdine University. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Protection Administration and a Chief Fire Officer certification from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
Chief Hamilton has served in a variety of assignments, including, Grant Writer and Grant Project Manager where he successfully procured and managed over $15 million in grants. He has previously served as a hazardous materials specialist, urban search and rescue team member, member of the Police/Fire Dive Team, Peer Support Team, and Honor Guard. Furthermore, Chief Hamilton is the co-founder and CFO of the Oxnard Firefighters Foundation, Inc., and is an Advisory Board Member of the VC Ribbons of Life Foundation. He developed a comprehensive behavioral health program for both Fire Departments in the region and also serves as a Suicide Intervention Instructor. Additionally, Battalion Chief Hamilton is a recipient of the Kiwanis Firefighter of the Year and the City of Oxnard Employee of the Year awards and has earned numerous educational and training certificates. |
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John Colamarino began his career in the Oxnard Fire Department in 1995; he has a total of 28 years in the fire service. Before starting a career in the fire service he served our country as a United States Army Medic. Chief Colamarino has operated as a strike team leader, and division leader several major wildland fires during his career here with the OFD. Currently Chief Colamarino serves on the Oxnard Fire Department; Safety, Operations, CICCS, and Wildland committees. He also serves on the County Chiefs committee and functions as a Battalion Chief as well as the OFD Training Chief. | |
Chief McNaughten has been a part of the fire service for over 20 years. He began his career as a fire dispatcher in 1998 and has promoted through the ranks, having held the positions of firefighter, engineer, fire inspector/investigator, fire captain, and battalion chief.
Chief McNaughten currently serves as the Oxnard Fire Marshal; while on duty he oversees the Fire Department’s Fire Prevention and CUPA divisions, consisting of supervising 13 dedicated professionals providing fire protection, fire safety inspections and public education delivery to the citizens and businesses of Oxnard. His prior experience as a Captain, includes assignments in Prevention, Training, Hazmat, USAR, and Staffing. As a Captain, he became qualified as a State Instructor in various Fire, EMS, and Hazmat Training courses. Currently, he teaches Fire Technology at Oxnard College and EMT at Ventura College. Chief McNaughten is a certified hazardous materials specialist, urban search and rescue technician, and emergency medical technician. As a member of Oxnard Fire Department he has achieved CICCS qualification as an Engine Strike Team Leader. Additionally, he is the current Program Manager of Hazmat, PPE, Safety, Information Technology, and NFIRS Documentation. Chief McNaughten earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from California State University, Fullerton, an Associates of Science Degree in Fire Technology from Rio Hondo Community College, and an Associates of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from Citrus Community College. He is a qualified as an State Executive Chief Fire Officer and is working towards a State Fire Marshal qualification. Chief McNaughten is a native of Southern California and resides with his wife and 3 children in Oxnard. |
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Before beginning his career with the Oxnard Fire Department in 2003, Battalion Chief Nathan La Russo was an Explorer for the Fullerton Fire Department, a Volunteer Firefighter at the La Habra Heights Fire Department; an Ambulance Operator for the Huntington Beach Fire Department, and worked as a member of ski patrol at two Southern California ski resorts. Chief La Russo has earned an Associate’s Degree in Fire Technologies from Mount San Antonio College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Safety Management from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and holds a Master’s Degree in Emergency Services Administration from Cal State University Long Beach.
Chief La Russo worked 3.5 years as a firefighter on Engines 62 and 64 before promoting to Engineer in 2006. He worked as an Engineer on Truck 61 for the better part of 6 years and then promoted to Captain. In addition to working on Engines 62 and 64, Chief La Russo served as our Training Captain before promoting to Battalion Chief in 2017. Chief La Russo has spent a significant amount of time preparing the next generations of firefighters; he taught at Mt. SAC Fire Academy for a total of 15 years, and has been a part of 3 Oxnard Fire Department Training Academies, functioning as Training Cadre Captain for 2 of those. Chief La Russo has been on our USAR, Ocean Rescue, Swiftwater, Haz-Mat, and Dive teams. Currently Chief La Russo serves as program manager for our Equipment, and Staffing committees. Chief La Russo manages or oversees the following programs:
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Battalion Chief Steve Reyes began his career with the Oxnard Fire Department in 1996 as a Reserve Firefighter. He was then selected and was hired as a Firefighter with the department in 1998. Throughout his career he has strived to develop his knowledge, skills and abilities by inserting himself in assignments with some of the busiest Engine and Truck companies in the city.
Chief Reyes is a Hazardous Material Technician and a member of the RTF-7 Urban Search and Rescue Team with specialties in HERS – Heavy Equipment & Rigging / TSS – Technical Search Specialist. He has been a member of the department Operations Committee and a Recruit Academy Instructor. With a commitment to departmental safety. Chief Reyes has been highly involved in the research and development of department PPE. Chief Reyes is a previous leader but currently an Advisor for the Oxnard Fire Department Fire Explorer Post # 9244. Also has annual involvement with the California State Fire Explorer Academy as an instructor. He was awarded Firefighter of the Year in 2011. Throughout his career his intent has been to give back to the others the knowledge and experience he has obtained in the Fire Service. Which he believes will provided for a safer and more efficient Fire Service in the future. With that passion he was an instructor with the Oxnard College Regional Fire Academy from 2002 – 2015. Here he instructed and mentored cadets on the basic fireground fundamentals. Chief Reyes is a California State Fire Marshall Certified Company Officer. Additionally is certified Primary Instructor with the California State Fire Marshall in Fire Control III (Live Fire Training Acquired Structures) and Auto Extrication. With his experience and dedication to the Fire Service Chief Reyes believes in operational engagement in addition to solid command principles which will lead to a successful closure of an incident. |
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Chief Karsten Guthrie began his career with Oxnard Fire Department in September 2001. Before being hired with OFD he worked as a lifeguard for Los Angeles County and Ventura State Beaches for a total of 10.5 seasons. He also served as a Volunteer Firefighter for Pepperdine University and Paid-Call Firefighter for Valley Center Fire Protection District. Chief Guthrie has Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Masters University in Santa Clarita, and an Associate’s Degree in Fire Technologies from Oxnard College. He also attended the Oxnard College Fire Academy.
Chief Guthrie began his career working on Engine 1 which was a Haz-mat assignment. He also worked as a truck firefighter before promoting to engineer in 2006. He was a truck engineer until he promoted to Captain in 2009; working at stations 3 and 6 on an engine before becoming the departments Training Captain in 2017. Later in 2017 he was promoted to Battalion Chief. During his career Chief Guthrie has been on our Peer Support, Haz-mat, Ocean Rescue and USAR teams. Chief Guthrie has been a part of 2 training cadres for OFD fire academies. Chief Guthrie has helped develop tools and resources for disseminating information within our department specifically in regards to technological resources. |
Battalion Chief John Ceceña |
Battalion Chief John Ceceña is a 32-year fire service veteran. He began his career in the central coast as a volunteer firefighter and then as a professional engineer. Chief Ceceña joined the Oxnard Fire Department in 1995. He spent 4 years as a Firefighter before he was promoted and served as a Company Officer for 22 years.
His prior experience as a captain includes time working as the department’s Training Captain where he managed multiple basic training academies. While in training he also coordinated the department’s Skills Maintenance Training (SMT) program which brings hands-on in-service training to on duty crews. Chief Ceceña has worked to design and develop fire department specialty apparatus (i.e. Hazardous Materials, Urban Search & Rescue and Tractor Drawn Aerials) to serve the City. Chief Ceceña has been a State Fire Marshal Instructor for over 25 years and has provided fire service-related training programs throughout the State. Chief Ceceña has also been an instructor in the California Community system for the past 25 years. Chief Ceceña is a certified hazardous materials specialist, urban search and rescue technician and Regional US&R Task Force Leader. Chief Ceceña has chaired the Statewide Regional Task Force Working Group and currently chairs the Ventura County Urban Search and Rescue Working Group. He also Co-Chairs the Oxnard Fire Department’s Operations and Training Working Group. Chief Cecena is currently assigned as the A-Shift Battalion Chief, Battalion 60. He serves as the Oxnard Fire Department Urban Search & Rescue Program Manager and oversees the department’s NFIRS Documentation program. |
Battalion Chief Michael McCaslin |
Battalion Chief Michael McCaslin was born and raised in the City of Oxnard and Ventura. He began his career with the Oxnard Fire Department in 1998. He promoted from Firefighter to Engineer and then Captain where he served in the rank for 18 years. He has been an active member of the Hazmat Team and Cadre’s for Fire Ground Survival, Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) and High Rise firefighting. He has taken leading roles in promotional exams for Captains and Engineers. He embraces the power of teamwork and promotes continuous training and skill development.
Chief McCaslin is currently assigned as the B-Shift Battalion Chief, Battalion 80. He oversees Radios/Communications and the Hazmat Team. |
Battalion Chief Scott A. Herring |
Battalion Chief Scott A. Herring began his career in the fire service in 1987 with the Arroyo Grande Fire Department. Over the next ten years he worked as a firefighter with the Kern Valley Hot–Shots, Vandenberg Hot-Shots, California Division of Fire Protection (Cal Fire), Warner Brothers Fire Department, and the Vandenberg Air Force Base Fire Department. Chief Herring joined the Oxnard Fire Department in 1997 and held the rank of firefighter and engineer before being promoted to captain in 2006. Over the last thirty four years he has been honored to serve in each assignment, specifically as a member of the Oxnard Fire Department.
Chief Herring is currently assigned as the C-Shift Battalion Chief, Battalion 60. He oversees Ocean Rescue, Wildland and Honor Guard Programs. |