Pasadena Official Is New Fire Chief

Pasadena’s assistant fire chief will take the top job in Oxnard, city officials announced Tuesday.

Joe Milligan will assume the $108,000-a-year job as Oxnard fire chief Nov. 2, the same day Art Lopez is to be sworn in as chief of police.

Milligan, 51, has been a firefighter for 27 years and currently serves as assistant chief of the Pasadena Fire Department. He was chosen from 50 candidates, including two from the Oxnard Fire Department, according to City Manager Ed Sotelo.

Oxnard has been a favorite vacation spot for Milligan and his wife, Linda, and he was looking for a place to end his career.

“It’s a good department, from what Ive seen so far,” Milligan said. “I’m looking forward to working with everyone and working together as a team.”

Milligan will supervise about 100 employees in the city’s six stations. As assistant chief in Pasadena, he supervised nearly 170 employees in eight stations.

Milligan will replace Acting Chief Henry Lenhart, who took over in 1996 after Chief Rand Scott Coggan resigned.

Lenhart said he did not apply for the chief’s position and is looking forward to Milligan joining the force.

Mayor Manuel Lopez praised Milligan’s intention to stay in Oxnard.

“We’re very impressed with him,” Lopez said. “He made it a point to tell us that Oxnard isn’t a steppingstone. He wants to retire here, and I think that’s very important.”