Courtesy photo.
VENTURA COUNTY — Surrounded by his family and colleagues at headquarters, Division Chief Barry Parker was honored for his well-earned promotion to Assistant Fire Chief of the Support Services Bureau.
Parker’s promotion marks a significant milestone in his distinguished 30-year career. Recognizing his dedication and leadership, Fire Chief Gardner stated, “Barry has consistently risen above expectations and stands in a league of his own. With this well-earned promotion, we are thrilled to recognize his unwavering commitment and professionalism.”
Selected after a nationwide search, Parker has steadily advanced through the ranks, serving as a firefighter, engineer, captain, battalion chief, and division chief before assuming this new role. Most recently, he led as the Division Chief of Special Operations, overseeing fire emergency coordination with government agencies, arson investigations, special events, the hazardous materials (HAZMAT) unit, Urban Search and Rescue operations, and Tactical Emergency Medical Services teams.
Reflecting on this achievement, Chief Parker expressed his gratitude and passion for the profession: “This role is a tremendous responsibility, and I take it very seriously. I owe so much to my family, and I know that success in this profession comes from all of us supporting each other—not just to reach the finish line, but to keep moving forward.” He continued, “I wake up every morning excited to come to work—not just for the job, but for the incredible people I get to work with. Thank you for trusting me to lead, to make the right decisions, and to move this agency forward.”
The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) employs nearly 650 personnel. It serves as the primary responder for fire, rescue, and medical emergencies across most of Ventura County, including Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Santa Paula, Ojai, and Port Hueneme. Each year, VCFD responds to over 55,000 calls for service.
For more information about the Ventura County Fire Department, visit www.vcfd.org