Mark Hartwig brings more than 30 years of public safety leadership experience, including service as Fire Chief for both San Bernardino County and Santa Barbara County. His fire service career began in 1992 with the San Bernardino County Fire Department, where he advanced through key leadership roles including Battalion Chief and Deputy Chief with the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District before being appointed Fire Chief. During his tenure in San Bernardino County, Mark led the team that implemented Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), established the County’s Fire Hand Crew and Camp Program, and enhanced minimum staffing levels across the organization. These initiatives strengthened operational readiness, service quality, and firefighter support. As Fire Chief in Santa Barbara County, Mark led the team that expanded paramedic services to all county fire stations, established a countywide emergency dispatch center, and advanced competitive bidding for emergency ambulance services to improve system efficiency, coordination, and transparency. He also provided strategic leadership through major emergencies, including the Alisal Fire in 2021 and the Lake Fire in 2024, helping strengthen regional preparedness and interagency collaboration. Mark now applies his broad fire service leadership experience to supporting agencies in strengthening their operational capacity, leadership development, and long-term organizational readiness. His background in high-performance team building, modernizing emergency service systems, and advancing community-focused initiatives informs a practical and strategic approach to helping agencies address emerging needs. In addition to contributing to firefighter recruitment efforts, he provides insight across a range of public safety priorities, bringing technical expertise, a collaborative mindset, and a deep commitment to the future of the fire service.

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