Courtesy Riverside Fire Department
Fire Chief Spencer Kimura of the Riverside Fire Department has successfully completed the process that awards him the professional designation of Chief Fire Officer (CFO). The Commission on Professional Credentialing met on November 6, 2012 to officially confer the re-designation upon Chief Spencer Kimura. Chief Kimura is one of only 908 CFO’s worldwide.
According to Deputy Director, Debbie Sobotka from the Commission on Professional Credentialing, the Chief Fire Officer designation program is a voluntary program designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate their excellence in seven measured components including: Experience, Education, Professional Development, Professional Contributions, Association Membership, Community Involvement, and Technical Competencies. Chief Kimura received his original designation on August 26, 2009. To maintain the designation, individuals need to show they have continued to develop as a CFO in four areas: Professional Development, Professional Contributions, Active Association Membership and Community Involvement.
A Board of Review consisting of members of the fire and emergency services profession, academia, and municipal agencies reviews each application and recommends successful candidates for designation to the commission.
Chief Spencer Kimura is a thirty-two year veteran of the fire service. He has served as Fire Chief of the Riverside Fire Department since August 2011, and was a Battalion Chief for the Glenview Fire Department for 31 years prior to coming to Riverside.
Chief Kimura possesses a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science Management and a Master of Science degree in Managerial Leadership. He is a graduate from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP). In addition to the designation of CFO, Chief Kimura has achieved the designation of MIFireE from the Institution of Fire Engineers.
