Administration/Chiefs
While the Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for the District's operations, the Administration Division is charged with managing its daily operations. The Division includes the Fire Chief, the Deputy Chief of Operations, and the Deputy Chief of Support Services.
These three chiefs supervise other officers, firemedics, and staff responsible for specific areas of the District's daily operations. In addition to that supervision, some of the other functions of the Division include budgeting, personnel management, staff development, intergovernmental relations, and public affairs. The three administrative chiefs also respond to local and mutual aid calls to provide command support during emergency operations.
| Administrative Chiefs | |
| Click on bold names to email. | |
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Fire Chief Jeff Steingart Serving Since 1982 31 Years Experience Fire Officer 3/Paramedic BS Fire Service Management, Southern Illinois University AAS Fire Science, College of Lake County Blue Card Command Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Investigator Fire Prevention Officer 2 Advanced Wildland Firefighter Emergency Response to Terrorism FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Task Force Leader NFA All Hazards Incident Management Team NFA Incident Command System for Structural COllapse NFA Leadership 1, 2 & 3 Hazmat Incident Command Hazmat Technician Tech Rescue Technician US Department of Justice WMD Incident Command System Lake & McHenry County Fire Departments Technical Rescue Team Lake & McHenry County Fire Departments Wildland Team Member, Illinois Fire Chiefs Association Member, Illinois Professional Firefighters Association Member, Illinois Society of Fire Service Instructors Member, International Fire Chiefs Association Member, Lake County Fire Chiefs Association Chief Steingart began his fire service career with Countryside in 1982 as a paid-on-call member. During his paid-on-call years, Steingart worked as a firefighter/paramedic and later lieutenant for the Highwood Fire Department until being hired in 1986 as a full-time career firefighter with Countryside. Chief Steingart's 27 year career has seen him ascend quickly through the ranks to his current position as Fire Chief for the District, a position which he has held since 2006. His assignments have included Fire Marshal, Training Officer, and Accreditation Officer. Steingart presently serves as a member of the MABAS Technical Rescue Team Committee and the Lake County ETSB Board and is the past chairman of both the Lake & McHenry County Fire Departments Specialized Response Teams and the Lake County Fire Chiefs. In 2008, Chief Steingart responded with a contingent of Illinois firefighters to Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike where he was assigned as a task force leader. Steingart also serves as adjunct faculty with the College of Lake County and as a field instructor for the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute. |
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Deputy Chief-Support Services Ron Grant Serving Since 2006 34 Years Experience Fire Officer 3/Paramedic BS Fire Service Management, Southern Illinois University AS Fire Science Technology, College of Lake County Blue Card Command Chief Fire Officer Designation Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Department Incident Safety Officer Fire Prevention Officer 1 Hazmat Technician Member, Illinois Fire Chiefs Association Member, International Fire Chiefs Association Member, Lake County Fire Chiefs Association Deputy Chief Grant began his fire service career in 1979 with the Mundelein Fire Department. Grant retired from Mundelein in 2006 as the Deputy Chief of Operations and joined Countryside later that year. Grant previously led the Lake County Fire Departments Hazardous Materials Team and received a Meritorious Service Award from the Lake County 100 Club for leading the Team's responses to the anthrax scare following 9/11. Prior to joining Countryside, Grant worked as the Emergency Management Coordinator for the Lake County Health Department and was responsible for developing a medicine distribution plan for the 700,000 residents of Lake County, a plan that later received recognition by the National Association of County and City Officials as a Model Practice. Grant's current position as Deputy Chief-Support Services has him responsible for overseeing all support operations including building and grounds, dispatch services, personnel, and benefits as well as managing the District's budget and approving purchase requests. Deputy Chief Grant also served as the Accreditation Manager in 2008 when the District attained accredited status for the third time since 1998. |
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Division Chief-Operations Chuck Smith Serving Since 1997 16 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic BS Fire Service Management, Southern Illinois University AAS Fire Science Technology, College of Lake County Blue Card Command Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Prevention Officer 1 Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist Diver Sonar Technician Wildland Firefighter Lake & McHenry County Fire Departments Sonar Team Lake & McHenry County Fire Departments Wildland Team Member, Illinois Fire Chiefs Association Member, Lake County Fire Chiefs Association Division Chief Smith began his career as a paid-on-call firefighter at Countryside in 1997. During his POC years, Smith worked at Hoffman Estates Fire Department as a firefighter/paramedic until being hired as a full-time firefighter/paramedic at Countryside in 2000. Smith rose through the ranks at Countryside to his current position as Division Chief-Operations. His assignments have included Public Education Director, SCBA coordinator, and PPE coordinator. Smith received a Meritorious Service Award from the Lake County 100 Club for his part in developing an Internet-based public safety program. Smith's current position has him responsible for working with all members of the organization to ensure emergency operations are handled effectively at all levels. |