White, who was one of three candidates added to the city’s fire chief search in late July, will move into his new role in early October, according to the release. He replaces former Fire Chief Mark Medtker, who served the city in various public safety roles for 17 years before retiring in June.
“I am extremely humbled and honored to be selected as the next fire chief for the city of Celina,” White said in the release. “I look forward to working with the amazing members of this department to continue to build upon the culture of excellence created by Chief Metdker.”
About Chief White
White was appointed as the 11th fire chief for the Henderson, Nevada, fire department in September 2017 after nearly 20 years with the department, according to the release. His career in fire service began in 1989 with the Albuquerque Fire Department before transitioning to Henderson in 1999.
During White’s tenure as Henderson’s fire chief, he helped add four new fire stations and more than 100 new positions as the city grew.
“We could not be more excited to have Chief Shawn White join our team here in Celina,” City Manager Robert Ranc said in the release. “His passion, leadership and vision are exactly what our fire department needs as we continue to grow. Chief White was a key player in the incredible expansion of the Henderson Fire Department, and we are excited to see him bring that same level of expertise and innovation to our city.”
The Henderson Fire Department also received multiple accreditations and achieved an ISO Class 1 certification while White was its fire chief, placing it in the top 0.5% of fire departments nationwide.
An ISO rating is a 1-10 score that indicates how ready a community is to fight fires, and it has a direct impact on insurance rates in a given area. Celina has a rating of 3, according to the release.
“[White’s] impressive track record and the fact that Henderson’s Fire Department is admired by top departments across the country makes him the perfect fit for Celina,” Ranc said.
Anything else?
White has a bachelor’s degree in fire science and has received numerous fire service certifications and licenses. His leadership has helped develop multiple operational systems and training programs used by other fire departments in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Valley and beyond, according to the release.
“With his exceptional leadership and extensive experience, Chief White is poised to enhance the remarkable legacy of the Celina Fire Department,” Mayor Ryan Tubbs said in the release. “We warmly welcome him and his wife, Kim, to our community and eagerly anticipate the positive contributions they will make to our city.”
