CHIEF SOQUI BIOGRAPHY

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Chief Soqui began his career in the fire service as a reserve firefighter in Escondido with the Rincon Del Diablo Fire Department. In 1981, he took a job working for the Reservation Fire Department covering seven Indian reservations in north San Diego County. In 1982, he joined the fire department in the City of Rialto, California serving as a Firefighter/Paramedic until 1990 when he was appointed as a Fire Captain. In this capacity, he was a Hazardous Materials Specialist, Fire Investigator, and served on the city budget analyst committee as well as supervising the department mapping projects, Fire Explorers, Hazardous Materials and Special Hazards. In 1997, he was appointed as Fire Division Chief/Fire Battalion Chief with responsibilities to manage the operations division; and, emergency medical and ambulance services, training, hazardous materials and technical rescue. In February 2002, he accepted an appointment as a Deputy Fire Marshal for the City of Santa Clara, California fire department and in this capacity was involved in conducting fire life safety inspections of all occupancies and addressing various development, fire prevention, and investigative matters, while he also assisted with providing training for the 180 line member department.

Chief Soqui earned an Associate of Science Degree in 1989 in Fire Technology and Emergency Medical Services from Crafton Hills College where he was named the College Board Outstanding Minority Student. He then went on to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1995 in Business Administration and Management from the University of Redlands. In his 30 years in the fire service, he has gained experience and education in fire administration, fire protection, emergency medical and ambulance operations, fire prevention and code enforcement, principles and techniques of reserve management, and hazardous materials training. In addition, he has gained experience in budgeting and personnel practices from both the administrative and employee representative perspectives. Further, he has served as a consultant offering training and fire life safety compliance courses in English and Spanish to multinational corporations.

Included in his experience is having served on the Board of Directors and the Executive Board of the California Association of Professional Firefighters, including serving as Vice President, President for 10 years, and also as the Chairman of the Board. He has also served on the Executive Board and as President of the National Association of Professional Firefighters and Peace Officers Long Term Care Plan as well as on the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. While in Rialto he also served on the Arrowhead United Way Board of Directors, Campaign Cabinet, and Asset Allocation Team, as well as serving on the Board of Directors, Fiscal Committee and Personnel Committee for Catholic Charities of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
Chief Soqui currently serves as the:
  • League of California Cites, Fire Chiefs Department-President
  • California Emergency Management Agency (CAL-EMA) Regional Fire and Rescue Branch Mutual Aid Coordinator (1st Alternate) for Region VI covering the Operational Areas of Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Imperial, Mono and Inyo.
  • Advisor to the College of the Desert Public Safety Academy Fire Technology Program.
  • Currently, Chief Soqui participates in the following organizations:
  • Board of Directors, Coachella Valley Emergency Managers Association (CVEMA)
  • Fire Chiefs Liaison to the Riverside County Arson Task Force
  • Member, California Fire Chiefs Association
  • Member, International Association of Fire Chiefs

Chief Soqui has three children and currently has his primary residence in Beaumont, California.