Assistant City Manager Tammy Letourneau presented Fire Capt. Fred McDowell with the City Manager Leadership Award at the monthly Meet and Greet event on Thursday Feb. 28.

“It’s because of leaders like Capt. McDowell that the Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue team continues its longstanding reputation of excellence,” Letourneau said. “As part of our core group of first responders who are on the front line of saving lives and property, I thank him for his service to our community.”

McDowell joined the city of Costa Mesa as a firefighter in 1998 and was promoted to fire engineer in 2002 and fire captain in 2015.  He is active on many committees and has a passion for teaching and training.  He continues to serve with the Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue honor guard, which he joined in 1995 prior to being hired, and is currently preparing to become a certified Battalion Chief. He was recently selected as the Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue “Supervisor of the Year.”

Prior to joining Costa Mesa, he interned at the Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach fire departments.

McDowell graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 1993 with a double major in education and music performance. As a musician, he worked throughout the Southern California area at such places as Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm.

It was while preparing to complete his teaching credential that he did a ride-along with the Santa Ana Fire Department that changed his life. He then went back to school at Santa Ana College and graduated from the fire academy.

In addition to honoring McDowell, Letourneau welcomed several new members of the staff as well as a new promotion.

The new staffers in the City Manager’s Office include Management Aides Albert Ruiz and Ivis Torres, both of who support the City Council. Also introduced was new Chief of Staff Connor Lock

In Human Resources, Caroline Tse is the new office specialist II, and in Development Services, Monique Arredondo is one new code enforcement officer.
Kristin Stevens is the new management analyst in Fire & Rescue and Nicholas Spector the recreation leader II in Parks & Community Services. Jason Corlett and Judy Malouf are new police records technicians.

In Public Services, Mathew Ballew is the new Management Aide, Nader Noorani a new engineering technician II and Andrew Lucio is a new maintenance worker.

Finally, Letourneau honored longtime fire leader Chris Coates who has been promoted to battalion chief.