City Council confirms Robert Logan II as San Diego Fire-Rescue Chief

The San Diego City Council on Monday officially confirmed the appointment of Robert Logan II as the next Chief of the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

Current Chief Fire and Rescue Officer Colin Stowell is due to retire in August and Logan will take over.

Logan thanked Stowell for his personal guidance and said at the confirmation hearing that he envisions a truly representative workforce with excellent ambulance service, support from city lifeguards and wants to practice greater transparency and collaboration.

Logan is a lifelong San Diego resident and is the Deputy Fire Chief overseeing employee services. In this role, he oversees and manages six divisions within the SDFD including recruitment, health and safety, community outreach, professional standards and training.

“During his 24 years of service, Deputy Chief Logan has risen through the ranks of our department and has demonstrated not only a deep understanding of the intricacies of fire rescue operations, but also a deep commitment to our community and the well-being of our fire rescue employees,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “I am confident that under his leadership, the department will be well served, the city will be well served, and we will be able to innovate and excel in providing emergency response services to our residents and visitors alike.”

Prior to his current role, Logan served as the Supervising Deputy Director of Special Operations, with a broad scope that included Air Operations, the Metro Arson Attack Team, the Hazardous Incident Response Team, and the Special Events and Emergency Management Team.

He began his career with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department as an emergency medical technician in 1999, then became a firefighter in 2000. He grew up in San Diego’s District 4, was born to a teenage mother, and said he had to learn resilience to get to where he is today.

“I am deeply honored and grateful that Mayor Gloria has appointed me as our City’s next Fire Chief,” Logan said. “Growing up, I faced numerous challenges that shaped my determination, resilience, commitment to service, and deep understanding of the needs and realities of our community. I look forward to leading our dedicated Fire-Rescue Department team with integrity and compassion, and ensuring it remains a pillar of safety, support, and unity for all San Diegans.”

According to the city, Logan is a co-founder of the Lincoln High School Fire Protection Program and an active member of Women In Fire, a national organization dedicated to empowering women in the fire and emergency services field.

Logan earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University, his master’s degree in emergency services management from Columbia Southern University, and a Fire Chief Executive Certification.

“It has been an honor to serve as Fire Chief and lead the dedicated professionals of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department for the past six years,” Stowell said. “I have every confidence that Chief Logan will continue the legacy of this great department and lead with his exceptional integrity, commitment to serving our communities, and collaboration with all of our public safety partners.”

“Chief Logan has earned the respect of our members as well as community stakeholders, and brings a wealth of SDFD experience and institutional knowledge that is critical to his success as our next fire chief,” he added.

Stowell served in the SDFD for 36 years.