Keith Richter, chief of the Contra Costa Fire Protection District, has been selected as the new chief of the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA).
Richter will replace Chip Prather who retires in July after leading OCFA for 12 years and after nearly 38 years in the fire service. Richter takes the helm Aug.1 at one of the largest fire agencies in the state.
He was selected by the OCFA Board from a large pool of well-qualified candidates from throughout the nation.
“We’re very excited to have Chief Richter at the OCFA,” said Don McCay, Chairman of the OCFA Board of Directors. “We’re confident he has the leadership skills we need to keep OCFA as one of the premier fire service agencies in America.”
Richter, who has been chief in the Contra Costa County Fire District since 1998, has more than 30 years experience in the fire service. He started his career in 1977 as a firefighter with the Tucson Fire Department.
“This is a very exciting day for me, to be named Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority,” Richter said in the statement. “OCFA is known to be one of the finest fire departments anywhere, and it is a high honor to be chosen as its next leader.”
Richter holds a Master of Science degree in Fire Administration and is a graduate of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is an Executive Board Member of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association.
