Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber (left) received the Ronny Jack Coleman Award from the California Fire Chiefs Association earlier this week. (Marin County)
Marin County’s fire chief has been named the 2023 Fire Chief of the Year by the California Fire Chiefs Association.
Jason Weber, who has been chief of the Marin County Fire Department since 2012 and a firefighter with the department since 1995, received the award earlier this week.
A longtime resident of Novato, Weber received the Ronny Jack Coleman Award during the association’s annual conference in Ontario, CA.
Weber’s 27 years of experience were cited, as well as his “effective leadership, adaptability to changing circumstances and environments, collaboration with partner agencies, the creation and launch of the FIRE Foundry program, and exceptional communication skills,” said Marin County, in a statement. .
“I was first introduced to Chief Coleman as a fire explorer over 30 years ago, knowing his name is an honor,” Weber said. “This recognition is great, but I just take it knowing that the entire team is being recognized. We have a Board of Supervisors that puts public safety first and supports our mission and 295 men and women who work 24-7 to protect our residents. .”
Weber was 36 when he was named to replace retiring Marin County Fire Chief Ken Massucco on Dec. 5, 2012. Weber previously served two years as the department’s deputy chief and for many years as a battalion chief, training officer, and paramedic.
Weber has a bachelor’s degree in emergency services from California State University at Long Beach.
Weber spent 15 years as a board member of the nonprofit California Fire Exploring Association, a point person for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), and served on more than a dozen firefighting and fire training associations.
In his nomination letter, Marin County Administrator Matthew Hymel cited Weber’s new roles in launching the Marin Wildfire Protection Authority, leading the County’s COVID-19 response, and creating the FIRE Foundry program. which encourages young recruits from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to get involved in fire protection. service.
“Chief Weber has shown exceptional and selfless leadership over the past year to make our community safer and healthier,” Hymel wrote. “Chief Weber is a leader and collaborator who brings all stakeholders together to make our county a more responsive government. After his nearly 28 years of fire service, I can’t imagine a more deserving individual for this prestigious honor.”
