Assistant Fire Chief Chad Costa brings over 26 years of fire service experience in fire districts and a city department. He has embraced innovation and leadership, previously serving as the Technology and Communications Battalion Chief. Costa holds a Master of Science in Fire Service Leadership and has completed the prestigious Executive Fire Officer Program. He is a rostered Type 1 Operations Section Chief with California Interagency Team 5, contributing to large-scale emergency response efforts across the state and the western United States, including the Maui disaster. His professional credentials include accreditation as a Chief Fire Officer through CPSE, a bachelor’s degree in emergency services management, and certification in Homeland Security. Beyond operations and leadership, Costa has strongly advocated for cultural change, recruitment, and retention within the modern fire service, working to create a more progressive and inclusive environment. His expertise has led him to speak at nationwide fire service expos and symposiums, and he has been a contributing author for Firehouse Magazine, Fire Engineering, and FireRescue1. Additionally, he has shared his insights as a guest on numerous fire service podcasts.
Chief Chad Costa came into our fire department with the idea of changing it to a softer culture. He has written multiple articles about leadership and then stands in the day room, negatively, talking openly about battalion chiefs and captains. He does this while we have probationary firefighter standing around. He also says how he is going to apply with different fire departments because he dislikes the current department he’s working at.
To add to user 1045, the department as a whole is awesome. The men and women in suppression are the hardest working and talented. The management team is in disarray. No collaboration throughout the management ranks. The BCs are on an island by themselves and are left with the top two making all decisions. Ass. Chief Costa is a strain on the morale and is the biggest sh!t talker of them all. He repeatedly talks bad about all employees who are not aligned with “his” vision. Whether it is employees that are injured, on probation, or senior, nothing is ever good enough for him. He repeatedly undervalues the work that is not quantifiable. Oh, and good luck trying to get ahead and move up in this department with him making the decisions. If you’re not in his “click” you have zero shot….For all the articles, podcasts, classes and large alphabet after his name in the signature email, you’d think he would be a better leader. Disappointment is an understatement, but he knows it all, just ask him.
Rating Breakdown
1/5
1/5
3.5/5
4/5
2 Reviews on “Chad Costa”
Chief Chad Costa came into our fire department with the idea of changing it to a softer culture. He has written multiple articles about leadership and then stands in the day room, negatively, talking openly about battalion chiefs and captains. He does this while we have probationary firefighter standing around. He also says how he is going to apply with different fire departments because he dislikes the current department he’s working at.
To add to user 1045, the department as a whole is awesome. The men and women in suppression are the hardest working and talented. The management team is in disarray. No collaboration throughout the management ranks. The BCs are on an island by themselves and are left with the top two making all decisions. Ass. Chief Costa is a strain on the morale and is the biggest sh!t talker of them all. He repeatedly talks bad about all employees who are not aligned with “his” vision. Whether it is employees that are injured, on probation, or senior, nothing is ever good enough for him. He repeatedly undervalues the work that is not quantifiable. Oh, and good luck trying to get ahead and move up in this department with him making the decisions. If you’re not in his “click” you have zero shot….For all the articles, podcasts, classes and large alphabet after his name in the signature email, you’d think he would be a better leader. Disappointment is an understatement, but he knows it all, just ask him.