Napa County's 1st Fire Administrator Named

NAPA COUNTY, CA — The Napa County Board of Supervisors announced the appointment Tuesday of David Shew as Napa County’s first fire administrator.

Shew begins his new role Oct. 30, bringing with him an impressive 32-year tenure with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. He spent 15 of those years with Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit.

During his extensive career, Shew served in several crucial roles, including Napa County fire marshal, Napa County battalion chief, special operations chief, South Division operations chief and administrative division chief. Before retiring in 2018, Shew served as the staff chief for the Division of Planning and Risk Analysis in the Office of the State Fire Marshal, where he oversaw statewide fire prevention programs and developed best practices for wildfire mitigation.

His journey with Cal Fire began as a firefighter, fire apparatus engineer and fire captain for Cal Fire's Santa Clara Unit, followed by his role as fire captain in Cal Fire's Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit.

Prior to joining Cal Fire, Shew worked as an architect while acquiring his emergency medical technician —EMT — certification and serving as an ambulance driver in Mendocino County.

His significant contributions have been recognized through awards such as the Cal Fire Director's Outstanding Achievement Award in 2014 and 2015, and the Medal of Valor presented by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2007.

"Becoming the first fire administrator for Napa County is an honor," Shew said. "I look forward to working closely with my new colleagues to help implement the Fire Master Plan and facilitate the delivery of vital grant funding for the citizens we serve."

The Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 Tuesday in favor of Shew's appointment. He will earn an annual salary of $208,874.

Board Chair Belia Ramos expressed the confidence she and her fellow board members have in Shew's capabilities.

"David has an exceptional track record of dedication to our county and vast experience that will be invaluable as he oversees the delivery of $37.5 million in federal wildfire resiliency grants,” Ramos said.

In his role as the newly appointed fire administrator, Shew will assume a central position involving strategic planning, coordination and oversight across a range of administrative, communication, managerial and financial functions within the Napa County Fire Department.

Additionally, he will provide essential support to the Board of Supervisors and the county executive officer, acting as a liaison and overseeing the Cal Fire contract. Shew’s primary focus centers on facilitating collaborative efforts in wildfire prevention, and he will actively engage with the Napa County Firewise Foundation and collaborate with Fire Safe Councils throughout the county.

Shew will also assume a pivotal role in providing oversight and guidance for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant.

Through these various connections and responsibilities, this position is envisioned as a unifying force for Napa County, fostering a vision and providing leadership to create a more fire-resilient community, county officials said.

Shew, who lives in Napa with his wife Susan, has a bachelor of architecture from the University of Cincinnati. He also attended the executive fire officer program at the National Fire Academy and holds numerous certificates from Cal Fire, the State Fire Marshal and other organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Shew currently serves on the Board of Directors for the California Fire Safe Council and is actively involved with the National Fire Protection Association as a part-time employee, contributing to the Firewise USA Program across the Western United States. Furthermore, he is deeply engaged in a large-scale regional wildfire mitigation program in Santa Barbara County and is actively involved in structure assessments in Sonoma County.

"David’s extensive experience and unwavering dedication make him a valuable addition to Napa County’s leadership team,” Napa County CEO Ryan Alsop said. "He is recognized as a national thought leader in fire resiliency, and his familiarity with our community will undoubtedly serve us well as we continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our residents."

To support Shew in his role at Napa County, Alsop appointed Jeffrey Rogers as the countywide fire project manager. Rogers currently serves as the station lead for the Angwin Fire Department, where he leads a team of 40 dedicated volunteer firefighters and emergency responders. Prior to this, Rogers served as associate vice president for student life at Pacific Union College and fleet/logistics manager for Angwin Community Ambulance.

Rogers has a master of business administration from Southern Adventist University, a bachelor’s degree in film/TV from Pacific Union College, and a firefighter 1/paramedic certificate from Santa Rosa Junior College.