McNeil, who lives in Ojai, started with the department as a member of a seasonal wildland crew before graduating from the fire academy in 1988 and advancing through the ranks. He became a battalion chief in 2013 and a division chief in 2017 before his promotion to assistant chief in charge of the Emergency Services and Operations Bureau in 2019. In that role, McNeil has been responsible for oversight of fire stations and the fire dispatch center. He has extensive experience in urban search and rescue, wildland firefighting and human resources. His last day at headquarters will be July 25.
“When you pursue this career, most people get experience from other agencies. I got all my experience from this agency. That’s what I’m most proud of,” McNeil said. “I’d have taken a job somewhere else, but I always wanted to work with this department.”
Chief Lorenzen presented Spykerman and Quirarte with their assistant chief badges in a ceremony at fire department headquarters.
With the departures and new promotions, some duties among the department’s three assistant chiefs are being reassigned.
Assistant Chief Chad Cook will now oversee Emergency Services and Operations. Spykerman will succeed Cook in running the Support Services Bureau, which includes responsibilities for supplying the department, maintaining equipment and vehicles and IT services. Quirarte will succeed White in running the Administrative Services Bureau.
Spykerman has served as a division chief since 2018, with responsibility for Division 13, serving southeast Ventura County, including Thousand Oaks, and Simi Valley. He joined the department after graduating from the fire academy in 1989 and was the department’s employee of the year in 2006.
“I always look at it as a whole team thing,” Spykerman said. “I still get to work with great people and I’m coming into a great place, just looking to see what I can add.”
Quirarte graduated from the fire academy in 1988. As he rose through the ranks, Quirarte served as a fire investigator specialist and was the captain of Engine Company 50 – B Shift when it won the department’s company of the year award in 2012.
“A significant portion of my career has involved training others to be safe and successful in the fire service,” Quirarte said. “I’m glad to have the opportunity to continue that focus as part of my new role.”