Former Sierra Vista Fire & Medical Services Deputy Chief Bradley Dever was recently promoted to fire chief.
A 17-year veteran of the department and a 20-year veteran of fire service, Dever worked his way up through the ranks, serving in a variety of positions with increasing responsibilities, including firefighter and paramedic, engineer, captain, and battalion chief, before being promoted to deputy chief in 2020.
Dever replaces Sierra Vista Fire Chief Brian Jones, who recently retired after 30 years of distinguished service with the department. Dever’s promotion was announced by City Manager Chuck Potucek at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
“I’m grateful for the mentorship of Chief Jones, who brought excitement and energy to his job, along with a deep dedication to the community he served,” Chief Dever says.
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As he takes on this new role, Dever hopes to build on the legacy of Chief Jones and the other chiefs who came before him, while also bringing his own ideas and impact to the department.
Dever recently earned a Ph.D. in fire administration and emergency management, distinguishing him from many of his colleagues. His dissertation on health, wellness, and resilience evaluated Arizona firefighters, looking at how workplace culture intersects with the health and wellness of firefighters.
“We want our firefighters to be healthy, both physically and mentally,” Dever says. “We want them to have career longevity and resilience to ensure that they are giving the best service available to our community.”
Recommendations from his dissertation are already being distributed statewide through the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association, making Dever a leader in advancing best practices across the state.
“Chief Jones left behind a strong legacy of service,” Sierra Vista City Manager Chuck Potucek says. “Chief Dever is well prepared to carry that work forward while helping guide the department into the future.”
