SAN DIEGO - Robert Logan II was sworn in Saturday as the next San Diego Fire-Rescue Department chief, joined by Mayor Todd Gloria, Pastor Terry Wayne Brooks and city officials.
The ceremony took place at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bayview Church of San Diego.
"Honored to be SDFDs 19th fire chief," Logan posted on X. "Thanks to all who attended my swearing in; I was overwhelmed by your support/kindness. Special thanks to @MayorToddGloria & Pastor Brooks & the folks at Bayview Church who made this event a success! #19thFireChief."
Gloria posted: "Proud to swear in Robert Logan II as San Diego's 19th Fire Chief. With nearly a quarter-century of dedicated service, Chief Logan's leadership will strengthen our public safety efforts. Together, we'll ensure San Diego remains one of the safest big cities in America."
Logan became the 19th fire chief of the SDFD, taking over from Chief Colin Stowell, who officially retired Friday.
He was confirmed by the San Diego City Council in July, telling the council he envisioned a truly representative workforce with excellent ambulance service. He also voiced support for the city's lifeguards and said he wanted to practice increased transparency and collaboration.
"Growing up in San Diego as the child of a single mother who struggled with many of the major societal issues that we face today in the fire service helped me develop resilience, resolve, commitment to service, and a true understanding of our community's diverse needs and realities," Logan said at the time "I commit to leading the Fire-Rescue Department with honesty, equity and justice, and I'm grateful to Mayor Gloria and the city council for the faith and trust they have placed in me."
Logan is a lifelong San Diegan and most recently was the deputy fire chief overseeing employee services. In that role, he supervised and managed six divisions within the SDFD, including recruitment, health and safety, community outreach, professional standards and training.
"Over his 24 years of service, Deputy Chief Logan has risen through the ranks of our department and demonstrated not only a profound understanding of the complexities of fire-rescue operations, but also a deep commitment to our community and the welfare of our Fire-Rescue employees," Gloria said last month. "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."
In June, Gloria nominated Logan from a pool of 70 candidates to lead the department. Before his current role, Logan served as a deputy chief overseeing special operations -- with a wide purview including air operations, the metro arson strike team, the hazardous incident response team and the special events/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, born to a teenage mother, and said he had to learn resiliency.
According to the city, Logan is co-founder of Lincoln High School's 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 in emergency services management from Columbia Southern University as well as an executive chief fire officer certification.
Stowell, who served with the SDFD for 36 years, expressed support for his successor during his retirement ceremony earlier this month.
"It has been an honor to serve as the fire chief and lead the dedicated professionals of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department for the last six years," Stowell said. "I have full 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 critical to his success as the next fire chief."