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Orgo-Life the new way to the future Advertising by AdpathwayMatheis spent 30 years with the Newport Beach (California) Fire Department, retiring as a division chief in 2011
April 10, 2026 12:45 PM •
U.S. Fire Administrator Paul Matheis
Photo/FEMA.gov
WASHINGTON — Former Newport Beach (California) Division Chief Paul Matheis has been sworn in as the newest U.S. fire administrator.
The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) made the announcement in its latest ‘Washington Watch’ update of legislative and policy news affecting the nation’s fire service.
While there has been no formal announcement from the U.S. Fire Administration, presumably due to the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, Matheis’ name appears on the Department of Homeland Security’s website in a listing of senior leaders in the department.
Matheis, a 30-year veteran of the Newport Beach Fire Department, started as a firefighter in 1980. Prior to that, he was a wildland firefighter with the California Division of Forestry, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Matheis also served as president of the Training Officers Section in the California Fire Chiefs Association and is an adjunct instructor at the National Fire Academy.
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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at [email protected].
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