Executive Staff

Director
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Chief Ken Pimlott was appointed on July 12, 2011 by Governor Edmund G. Brown as the Director of CAL FIRE, after serving as the Acting Director since November of 2010. He is also California's State Forester.

Chief Pimlott began his fire service career nearly 30 years ago as a reserve firefighter with the Contra Costa Fire Protection District. His subsequent years of service include 23 years with CAL FIRE. Prior to being appointed, Pimlott was the Deputy Director of Fire Protection, responsible for CAL FIRE's statewide fire protection programs, including Command and Control Operations, Cooperative Fire Protection, Conservation Camps, Fleet Management, Aviation Management, Training and Safety.

During Chief Pimlott’s career, he has risen through the ranks, beginning as a seasonal fire fighter in the Tulare Unit in 1987. He has held a variety of resource management and fire protection positions within the department, including Pre-fire Management Division Chief, Fire Chief for the City of Moreno Valley and program manager for CAL FIRE’s Cooperative Fire Protection Programs.

Prior to his current assignment, Chief Pimlott served in executive management at the Assistant Deputy Director level, overseeing CAL FIRE’s fire protection operations, cooperative fire, training and safety programs.

He recently served as co-chair of the 2010 Strategic Fire Plan Steering Committee within the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and represents CAL FIRE on the California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee Board of Directors.

Chief Pimlott has well rounded experience in fire protection at the operational and program levels within CAL FIRE. He holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Fire Technology from American River College, a Bachelors Degree in Forest Resource Management from Humboldt State University and is a registered professional forester.