Fire Chief Joe Testa has retired from the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department (LPFD) after 29 years. The department named Deputy Chief Aaron Lacey interim fire chief effective Aug. 16.
โThroughout his career, he (Testa) demonstrated a visionary and strategic approach to emergency management and organizational leadership that left a lasting impact on the department,โ LPFD said in a statement.
Testa began his career with LPFD in 1996 as a firefighter-paramedic and rose through the ranks, serving as engineer, captain, battalion chief, deputy chief and ultimately fire chief. Testa was an active member of both the California Fire Chiefs Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He served as an incident commander for the East Bay Incident Management Team and has held multiple leadership positions, including president of the Operations and Communications sections of the Alameda County Fire Chiefs Association.
โOne of the most important responsibilities of a fire chief is making appointments โ whether through new hires or promotions,โ Testa said. โDuring my tenure, I have had the privilege of appointing support staff, firefighters, managers and inspectors. Time and again, Iโve seen that the LPFD attracts the best of the best. I remain deeply grateful for the exceptional team I had the honor to serve alongside every single day.โ
Lacey has been with the LPFD since 2005. Over the years, he has displayed leadership skills and expertise, according to the department, advancing through the ranks from fire captain in 2011 to battalion chief in 2016 before becoming deputy chief in 2020. Lacey assumed the role of interim fire chief for six months following the 2021 retirement of former chief Jeff Peters.
โChief Lacey brings the tools, experience and commitment needed to continue moving the department forward,โ Testa added. โWith a broad background spanning administration, operations and specialized areas of the fire service, he is well prepared for this role. I wish him every success as he takes the reins.โ
Lacey said he is looking forward to his new role and is grateful for the opportunity to serve the community. โI am deeply honored to serve as fire chief and humbled by the trust placed in me,โ Lacey added. โI look forward to working alongside our dedicated members and partnering with the community to uphold our tradition of excellence and continue delivering the highest level of service.โ
There is currently no information available regarding the selection process or timeline for a permanent fire chief, according to Rosa Ramos, analyst manager for the LPFD.
