<body><div>Six finalists have made the cut from 33 applicants seeking to replace longtime Mesa Fire Chief Mary Carmeli.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1scJS0_1GpOqWyN00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1scJS0_1GpOqWyN00" width="447" height="447" ></figure>Carmeli, who became Mesa’s first female chief in 2016, is retiring.“We’ve seen strong interest in this position from candidates across the country, which speaks to the reputation of the Mesa Fire and Medical Department,” said City Manager Scott Butler in a release.“Our priority is finding a leader who will support our firefighters and medical personnel, build on the department’s strengths and continue moving Mesa forward through innovation and exceptional service.”Candidates participated in two days of interviews last week. The final stage includes meeting with fire personnel, community members and city staff. A final selection is anticipated after the interviews and evaluation process are completed, according to the city.Mosaic Public Partners identified the finalists through a nationwide recruitment process.Candidates were evaluated based on leadership experience, professional qualifications, operational expertise in emergency response, fire prevention, public safety, disaster preparedness and training.Whoever is selected for the job will oversee a department that operates 22 stations across 138 square miles . The annual salary range for the position was listed at $191,609 to $258,044.The six finalists are:Justin Alexander, assistant fire chief for Phoenix Fire Department.Alexander has served with Phoenix Fire since 1997. As assistant chief, he oversees the Community Risk Reduction Division.He previously served as division chief and deputy chief, advancing through the ranks from firefighter, engineer and fire captain. He has held leadership roles in planning and emergency response for major events, including Super Bowl LVII, the NCAA Men’s Final Four and the COVID-19 response.He is also a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Arizona Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team and has served on deployments across the country.Alexander holds a master’s degree in homeland defense and security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, a bachelor’s degree in emergency management from Northern Arizona University and an associate degree in emergency response and operations.Cori Hayes, assistant fire chief with Mesa Fire and Medical Department.Hayes has served Mesa for 30 years, including over 28 years with Mesa Fire. She began her fire service career as a firefighter/paramedic in 1998 and has served as assistant chief since 2013. She has held leadership responsibilities across nearly every division of the department, including emergency operations training.Her regional leadership experience includes work with the Greater Phoenix Automatic Aid system, which coordinates emergency response among 26 fire departments, and service as executive director of East Valley Firefighter Charities.Hayes holds a bachelor’s degree in municipal operations management from Arizona State University and associate degrees in fire science and paramedicine from Mesa Community College.Raymond Hill, former interim fire chief for Fort Worth Fire Department in Texas.Hill has over 30 years’ fire service experience with the Fort Worth Fire Department, retiring as interim chief in September 2026. In that role, he led a department with over 1,500 personnel and 45 fire stations serving Fort Worth and 14 partner cities.He oversaw the first full year of city-operated, fire-based emergency medical services following the transition from MedStar, including the integration of approximately 600 employees.Previously, he served as executive assistant chief overseeing training, logistics and emergency management. Hill holds a master’s degree in managerial science, a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism from the University of Texas at El Paso, and associate degrees in fire science and nursing, along with several executive fire service.Jason Jenkins, assistant fire chief with Arlington County Fire Department in Virginia.Jenkins has 30 years of experience in fire and emergency medical services. He previously served with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, retiring from that department in 2023 after advancing through the ranks from firefighter/paramedic to assistant fire chief.His leadership experience includes service with federal urban search and rescue teams, an appointment to Virginia’s EMS Advisory Board and leadership of regional emergency response committees.He holds two master’s degrees from Johns Hopkins University in organizational leadership and intelligence analysis, as well as executive leadership credentials from Harvard University and the Naval Postgraduate School. Jenkins also holds professional designations as chief fire officer, Chief EMS officer, chief training officer and fire marshal.Forrest Smith, deputy director of Mesa Public Safety Support.Smith has over 35 years of experience in public- and private-sector communications and organizational leadership, including 26 years with the Mesa Fire and Medical Department.He retired as assistant fire chief after serving in several roles, including firefighter/paramedic. As deputy director, he oversees Mesa’s 9-1-1 communications.His experience includes public safety operations, emergency communications, community risk reduction and organizational leadership.He previously served as a fire department spokesman, representing Mesa through national media appearances and public safety conferences.Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from California State University, Fullerton, and a project management certificate from Cornell University, and has completed local and state leadership development programs.Scott Walker, former fire chief with Waco Fire Department in Texas.Walker has over 30 years of fire service experience. As Waco’s fire chief, he oversaw 14 fire stations, 211 sworn personnel and a $38.2-million departmental budget.He previously served with the Phoenix Fire Department, advancing from firefighter to executive assistant fire chief and overseeing major capital improvements, including a $100-million program involving six new fire stations.He also led public safety planning for Super Bowl XLIX and other major regional events and currently serves as public safety liaison for the Vincere Cancer Center, supporting cancer screening for first responders.Walker holds a bachelor’s degree in public safety and emergency management from Grand Canyon University and completed an executive leadership program at the Naval Postgraduate School.</div></body>

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Six finalists have made the cut from 33 applicants seeking to replace longtime Mesa Fire Chief Mary Carmeli. Carmeli, who became Mesa’s first female chief in 2016, is retiring. “We’ve seen strong interest in this position from candidates across the country, which speaks to the reputation of the Mesa...

Six finalists vie for next Mesa fire chief

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Six finalists have made the cut from 33 applicants seeking to replace longtime Mesa Fire Chief Mary Carmeli. Carmeli, who became Mesa’s first female chief 

Six finalists vie for next Mesa fire chief

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