Fire Chief David Parsons is an Oceanside resident who possesses 30 years of Fire Service experience, including over 23 years here in Oceanside.  He was awarded “Most Outstanding Recruit” at Oceanside’s Fire Academy and has steadily risen through the ranks. His assignments in operations included time on a Rescue Ambulance, Fire Engine, and Ladder Truck. He served 12 years as a Fire Captain which included time as the Fire Captain in Administration and as the Deputy Fire Marshal. As a Chief Officer, David was the Division Chief of Community Risk Reduction, worked as the Duty Battalion Chief, and has held the position of Acting Fire Chief and Acting Deputy Fire Chief.  He is a paramedic and registered nurse. He has served as an incident commander on significant incidents and has been a member of a federal incident management team for wildfire deployments across the country.

David holds a Master’s Degree in Emergency and Disaster Management, a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences, and an Associate's Degree in Nursing. He holds all relevant State fire leadership certifications and has the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence -- all of which complement his extensive professional experience. He is known as a professional, collaborative, solution-oriented leader who is a key member of the City’s Executive Management team.

“As the Fire Chief for the City of Oceanside, I am humbled to serve a high-performance public safety team in a vibrant and growing community. My leadership principles are focused on service and transformation. I strive to promote the growth and well-being of the people and community I serve, and I work collaboratively to gain a shared vision for positive change in individuals and the organization.”