Past-President Report – Chief Mark Heine

Serving as your Past-President this past year has been both an honor and a privilege. It marks the completion of an extraordinary three-year journey as President-Elect, President, and Past-President of the California Fire Chiefs Association and caps my 13 years of service to the CalChiefs Board of Directors and our members. 

During this time, I have had the unique opportunity to represent our members across the State of California and through the Western Fire Chiefs Association. These roles have provided me with experiences I will carry for a lifetime—whether it was engaging with policymakers, collaborating with our allied partners and sections, or simply sharing conversations with fellow chiefs and our members about the challenges and opportunities we all face.

None of this would have been possible without our amazing Board of Directors. Their unwavering support, commitment, and leadership have been the foundation of every success we have achieved together. I am profoundly grateful to them for their dedication to our mission and for the camaraderie that has made this work so meaningful. The people I have met and worked alongside—leaders from every corner of California, colleagues across the Western states, and our national partners—have truly enriched my journey and reminded me of the strength and resilience of our profession.

This past year, I have also had the privilege of supporting President Brian Fennessey and President-Elect Bernie Malloy as they lead CalChiefs forward with vision, energy, and a steadfast commitment to our members and the best practices of the California fire service. Their leadership, combined with the strong foundation we continue to build, ensures that our association is well positioned for the future.

Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Jeff Meston, our exceptional Executive Director. Jeff’s passion, wisdom, and tireless efforts behind the scenes have been a driving force for CalChiefs. His ability to bring people together, to manage complexity with grace, and to keep our association moving forward is nothing short of remarkable.

It has been an incredible journey and a tremendous honor to serve you. I will always cherish the trust you placed in me and the opportunity to stand alongside such dedicated and inspiring leaders. Together, we have advanced the mission of CalChiefs, strengthened our voice, and supported the fire service across California and beyond.

With deep gratitude,

Chief Mark Heine
Past-President, California Fire Chiefs Association