Fire Department Command Staff

Fire Chief Jim Skinner
Battalion Chief Steve Cavallero
Battalion Chief Stan Maupin
Battalion Chief Geoff Balton
Training Chief Dave Pucci
EMS Chief Emil Picchi

Fire Chief Jim Skinner
jskinner@redwoodcity.org

Chief Jim Skinner was hired by the Redwood City Fire Department in May of 1982 and has steadily advanced through the ranks. Prior to joining Redwood City, Jim was employed as a Fire Inspector with the South County Fire Authority in San Carlos. Jim began his career in Redwood City as a Firefighter splitting his time between the Engine and Truck companies. In 1990, he was promoted to Captain and in 1998 he was promoted to Battalion Chief. Jim headed up the Training Division for three years before being assigned to the “B” platoon. In January 2008, Jim was appointed to the position of Interim Fire Chief. In September of 2008, Jim was appointed to the position of Fire Chief.

In addition to his Departmental work, Chief Skinner is a professor teaching in the Fire Science Department at City College of San Francisco since 1994. He also teaches Command, Management, and Prevention classes for California State Fire Training and is an adjunct instructor for the National Fire Academy.

Battalion Chief Steve Cavallero
scavallero@redwoodcity.org

Battalion Chief Steve Cavallero has been with the Redwood City Fire Department since June of 1980. Prior to working for Redwood City Fire, Steve worked as an Ambulance Paramedic in Santa Clara County. Since joining Redwood City Fire, Steve has held the ranks of Firefighter / Engineer, Captain and Battalion Chief. As a Battalion Chief, Steve has been assigned as the department's Training Officer and as a Shift Battalion Chief. Steve is currently assigned as the Battalion Chief for "A" platoon.

Steve is also a part-time instructor in the Fire Technology Program at the College of San Mateo, and is co-director of the Firefighter 1 Academy. He is a past president of the San Mateo County Training Officers Association (2006) and in 2006 was awarded the Ed Bent California Fire Instructor of the year award by the Nor-Cal and So-Cal Training Officers Association at their annual conference in Fresno. Steve is also involved in teaching Rapid Intervention Crew curriculums at the San Mateo County Recruit Fire Academy and local area courses. He is currently helping develop the new Rapid Intervention Crew Command and Control curriculum for State Fire Training. Steve is a member of FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3, which is home based out of Menlo Park. Steve deployed with the Task Force to New Orleans in 2005 and to Atlanta Georgia in 2006. Steve is currently a Certified Strike Team Leader.

Battalion Chief Stan Maupin
smaupin@redwoodcity.org

Battalion Chief Maupin started his fire service career in 1988 as a Volunteer Firefighter with the Foster City Fire Department. He was hired by the Tracy Fire Department in 1990 and returned to the Foster City Fire Department in 1991 as a Firefighter. Stan was promoted to Captain in 1998 and Battalion Chief in 2002. He served as a line Battalion Chief while filling the role as the department's Training Officer. Stan came to the Redwood City Fire Department in January of 2007 as a Battalion Chief and is currently assigned as the Battalion Chief for "B" platoon.  

Battalion Chief Geoff Balton
gbalton@redwoodcity.org

Battalion Chief Balton Joined the Redwood City Fire Department in August of 1990. As a Firefighter he was assigned to the Truck Company and has worked at all engine companies in the City. In 1996 he was promoted to Captain and commanded Engine's 11 and 10.

In 2000, he was promoted to Battalion Chief and currently serves as the "C" Platoon Battalion Chief. He is a Certified Strike Team Leader, Division Group Supervisor and the Incident Safety Officer. Geoff also teaches in the San Mateo County Fire Academy.

Training Chief Dave Pucci
dpucci@redwoodcity.org

Dave started his career with the Redwood City Fire Department in 1997, but his public safety career began before that. Dave started as a police officer and attended the San Francisco Police Academy in 1988. He worked for the Mountain View Police Department until his hiring by the Redwood City Fire Department. In Mountain View he was a field training officer and member of the Regional SWAT team. During that time Dave also worked as a Paramedic, working part time providing service to San Mateo County. Dave was promoted to Captain in 2002 and to Battalion Chief in 2008. He is currently the Training Officer for the South Zone Training Group which consists of the Redwood City Fire Department, the Woodside Fire Protection District, the Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department and the Foster City Fire Department.

Dave is also serving as the Emergency Operations Center manager where he oversees city wide disaster preparation and training.

EMS Chief Emil Picchi
emil.picchi@redwoodcity.org

Battalion Chief Picchi is currently the EMS Chief for Redwood City Fire Department, Belmont/San Carlos Fire Department and Woodside Fire Protection District.

He started his career as a volunteer Firefighter for the Bellevue Fire Protection District in Santa Rosa. After completing Paramedic school in 1990 he worked as a Paramedic in the private sector in both Los Angeles and San Mateo Counties. In 1991 he was hired as a Paramedic/Firefighter for the South San Francisco Fire Department. In 1994 he left South San Francisco and was hired by the Woodside Fire Protection District. He promoted to Captain in 2000 and then promoted to Battalion Chief assigned to the EMS division in 2006.

He has been involved in teaching EMT for the College of San Mateo, assisted in Paramedic training for various schools and has been both a Paramedic preceptor and San Mateo County Field Training Officer.