Cedar Park Fire Chief Connealy resigns to become state fire marshal

Chris Connealy stepped down as Cedar Park fire chief May 31 to become the next state fire marshal.

Connealy had served as the Cedar Park Fire Department chief since March 1, 2004, and prior to that was the chief of the Houston Fire Department.

The state fire marshal position is a big job, Connealy said, as he will be responsible for the entire state of Texas. The position's responsibilities include, but are not limited to, fire investigations, fire inspections, coordinating with city fire marshals, regulating and managing licenses with fire protection systems and coordinating with the Insurance Service Office, which is responsible for managing fire reports and data.

Although he is moving to the downtown Austin area to be closer to his new job in the state building, Connealy said he will miss living in the Cedar Park area.

"[The] Cedar Park Fire Department will always hold a soft spot in my heart," he said. "But it's just too good of an opportunity to pass up at this point in my career."

Connealy holds a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University and a master's degree in executive fire service leadership from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. He is accredited as a chief fire officer through the Commission on Chief Officer Designation and was appointed the chairman of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection in 2009.

The Cedar Park Fire Department will begin a national search in the near future to hire the next fire chief, a process that will take approximately six months. Meanwhile, Assistant Fire Chief James Mallinger will serve as the interim chief.