Veteran Oakland firefighter to become next Alameda chief
ALAMEDA — A veteran Oakland firefighter will become the next chief of the Alameda Fire Department.
Nick Luby, currently an assistant chief in Oakland, will take over the top spot, Alameda City Manager Eric Levitt announced Wednesday.
Levitt initially said he was “very close to finalizing all the details” of the appointment during a Sept. 7 email to the City Council and top city officials. Luby will start Oct. 18.
“I have found Nick to be an experienced leader and believe he will be a great fit for the city of Alameda,” Levitt said in the email.
Luby will replace Edmond Rodriguez, who took over as chief in November 2017 from Doug Long, who retired a few weeks earlier after serving over 29 years as an Alameda firefighter.
In March last year, Rodriguez went on medical leave. He did not return to duty and stepped down in December last year, Levitt said. Rick Zombeck has been serving as interim chief while the city searched for a permanent replacement.
Twenty-six people applied for the post, Levitt said.
“I am very excited to join the Alameda team and utilize my 23 years of experience to support and
advance the Alameda Fire Department and the greater Alameda community,” Luby said in a statement. “As fire chief, I’ll work to ensure that we are unwavering in our responsibility to professionally serve our
community 24/7/365.”
The compensation package that Alameda will provide Luby was not immediately available. But when the city advertised the position the annual salary range was described as between $222,002 and $269,846, depending on the candidate’s qualifications.
The amount does not include benefits, which include a city-provided vehicle.
Luby has worked with the Oakland Fire Department since 1999. Before then he worked with Cal Fire for 18 months.
“My wife and three daughters value the sense of community and diversity that residing in the Bay Area offers and are excited at the prospect of me becoming the leader of the Alameda Fire Department,” Luby said in his application. “My family is embedded in the East Bay, with all three children currently attending Oakland Unified schools and my wife’s ongoing commitment to serving the same community that I do as a registered nurse. It goes without saying the Luby family is ‘rooted in Oakland.’ This new career opportunity close to home will be a family adventure that we embrace and look forward in participating in together.”
Luby has served as an emergency medical technician, a paramedic, a trained boat operator, and has been a swift water rescue technician.