10: Fire Chief Damon Covington

Join Host Christopher Baker and guest Fire Chief Damon Covington of the Oakland Fire Department for an in-depth discussion on career opportunities in public safety with the Oakland Fire Department. The conversation highlights the value of mentorship, developing future leaders from within through succession planning, and recruiting community members who care deeply about the profession and the citizens they serve.

They also discuss removing barriers to recruitment, utilizing virtual testing to become a firefighter in today's fire service, and Chief Covington shares his personal journey into public safety—along with why placing service before self remains essential to the profession.

Biography:

Damon Covington is the 32nd Fire Chief for the Oakland Fire Department. Prior to this appointment, Chief Covington served in an array of capacities over his 25-year career with Oakland Fire, including Firefighter-Paramedic, Fire Engineer, Lieutenant of Fire, Captain of Fire, Captain of Training, Battalion Chief, Special Operations Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, and most recently Interim Fire Chief.

Chief Covington's educational accomplishments include a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Sonoma State University and a Master's degree in Executive Public Administration from Golden Gate University. Chief Covington is also a graduate of Harvard University's Senior Executives for State & Local Government (Class of 2023) program at the Kennedy School of Government.

Chief Covington was the President of the Oakland Black Firefighters Association from 2016-2022 and previously served as the Chair of the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District, respectively. Additionally, he currently serves as an Adjunct Professor for Merritt College where he lectures in the undergraduate Fire Science program.

Chief Covington is a member of several professional organizations, California Fire Chiefs Association, International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), California Professional Firefighters (CPF), and IAFF Local 55.

Chief Covington moved to the East Bay during his early childhood, graduated from Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, and is the proud father of one son.

Show Notes: https://www.thebakerpodcast.com/blog/10-fire-chief-damon-covington