Capt. Gonzalo Medina has been appointed as Marine Safety Chief, Long Beach Fire Chief Mike DuRee announced today.
Medina has been with the Long Beach Fire Department for 19 years, and his new position will be effective on December 5. Medina will be in charge of the Marine Safety Division, which is responsible for the safe and lawful use of the City’s beaches and waterways, and includes Rescue Boat Operations, Lifeguards, Public Safety Dive Team and Swiftwater Rescue Team.
Medina will be replacing current Marine Safety Chief Randy Foster, who will retire on December 5.
“Gonzalo Medina has a long history of dedicated and professional service in the Long Beach Fire Department, and he will provide steady leadership for the Marine Safety Division,” Chief DuRee said in a statement. “I am confident that he will continue to seek out new technologies and methods of service delivery that will benefit everyone who visits our beaches and waterways.”
Prior to his appointment as Marine Safety Chief, Medina has held many positions at the LBFD, including Ocean Lifeguard, Marine Safety Officer, Marine Safety Beach Sergeant, Dive Team Supervisor, Dive Officer for the Long Beach Public Safety Dive Team, Administrative Marine Safety Captain and Acting Marine Safety Chief.
“I am humbled to lead an organization with such deep history. The men and women that make up our organization are the most highly trained and passionate marine safety professionals in the United States,” Capt. Medina said in a statement.