Fire Chief – Randy Royal
Chief Royal has been a member of the Colorado Springs Fire Department since 1987 and has worked in emergency services for over 42 years (28 years as a paramedic). Chief Royal has served in a Chief Officer role for 16 years, as a Battalion Chief, Shift Commander and Deputy Chief. He graduated from Flagler College and has regularly attended the National Fire Academy receiving the Executive Fire Officer designation. He also has earned the Center of Public Safety Excellence’s designation as a Chief Fire Officer. Chief Royal has presented numerous classes in the state and region to include the Colorado State Chiefs Conference, Fire-Rescue International, and Missouri Valley Chiefs Conference.
During his career, he has been involved in many programs and projects to include the initiation of the Tactical Emergency Medical Program, worked in the early Hazmat and Tox-medic Programs, managed the Medical Division, helped develop the Awards and Recognition Program, chaired the department’s Rebranding Committee, and presently leads the Pandemic Taskforce. He has been recognized over his career with numerous awards to include two Medals of Distinguished Service and the Firefighter of the Year award. He is proudest for being recognized as part of the department’s efforts with the Castle West Apartment fire, Waldo Canyon fire, and the Black Forest fire.
Deputy Chief of Support Services – Tim De Leon
Deputy Chief De Leon began his career with the Colorado Springs Fire Department in 1995 and has served the citizens of Colorado Springs and the CSFD for over 29 years. As the Deputy Chief of Support Services, he oversees Human Resources, the Training Division, Facilities, Fleet, and Accreditation. He has been promoted through the ranks of Firefighter, Paramedic, Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief, and Shift Commander. Deputy Chief De Leon has operated in the High-Angle Rescue, Wildfire Suppression, and Tactical Emergency Medical Services Specialty Programs. Additionally, he served as the Battalion Chief of the Training Division for approximately four years.
During his career, he has served as the liaison to the Colorado Springs Public Safety Communications Center, the Chair of the Colorado Metropolitan Certification Board, and a member of the CSFD accreditation Core Compliance team. He is currently a Pikes Peak Fire Chiefs mutual aid subcommittee member, a proxy board member for the Pikes Peak Regional Communications Network, and an El Paso Teller County 911 Authority board member.
Deputy Chief De Leon received a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management with a minor in Project Management from Colorado Christian University. He graduated from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officers program in 2017.
Deputy Chief of Operations – Steve Wilch
Steve Wilch is a 35-year veteran of the fire service. He started his career in 1989 with a volunteer fire department in Southern California before being hired as a professional firefighter in 1993 with the City of West Covina Fire Department, California. He moved to Colorado Springs in 2004 to take a position with the City of Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) and is currently serving as the Deputy Chief of Operations. His team includes over 500+ sworn firefighters that operate in a three-platoon system responding from strategically located firehouses throughout the city. The CSFD is an internationally accredited “All Hazard” fire agency through CFAI that provides fire suppression for structure and wildland fires, emergency medical service delivery, hazardous materials response, high angle and technical rescue response, and a tactical EMS program ever day of the year, 24/7.
In his three decades, Steve has gained valuable experience having risen through the ranks beginning as a firefighter, promoting to Paramedic, Driver Engineer, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief and is now proudly serving as the Deputy Chief of Operations. He has served in both sworn and staff assignments to include the Driver Coordinator in the CSFD Training Division and later as the Public Information Officer. As a wildfire specialist he was been involved in fighting many large wildfires across the Front Range: Waldo Canyon Fire (2012), Black Forest Fire (2013), Cameron Peak Fire (2020), and Marshall Fire (2021).
His formal education and professional certifications consist of a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Azusa Pacific University and an Associate of Science in Fire Technology from Mt. San Antonio College. He holds certifications in Urban Search & Rescue (USAR), Confined Space Rescue, Paramedicine, Wildfire Specialist, Hazardous Materials Technician, and from the National Wildfire Coordination Agency (NWCG).
Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services – Jayme McConnellogue
Jayme McConnellogue is a 23-year veteran of the Colorado Springs Fire Department currently serving as the Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services.
Prior to her appointment to Deputy Chief, Jayme served 5 years as the Battalion Chief of the Medical Division and the Community and Public Health Division, where she was responsible for the emergency medical system and was committed to developing, improving, and leading the delivery of medical care in the community and region. In the Community and Public Health Division, she set the vision to help people receive the right care professionally and compassionately, at the right time, with the right resource, for the right cost through multiple innovative programs.
Jayme has risen through the ranks beginning her career in 1998 as a Firefighter and then promoting to Paramedic, Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief and now currently serving as Deputy Chief. She was appointed to the state-wide Responder Strong Advisory Board and the Advisory Board for the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters and has been a committee member to the Colorado State Fire Chiefs Health, Safety, and Survivability Committee. Within the CSFD, she has passionately served as a member and as the executive coordinator of the CSFD Peer Support Team since 2006. Throughout her career, Jayme has continually sought out ways to be involved in ensuring and enhancing the safety and wellness, not only for first responders and the firefighting community, but also for the citizens of Colorado Springs.
Jayme received her NREMT Paramedic certification in 2002 and still maintains Colorado State certification. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Accounting from the University of Phoenix.
Fire Marshal – Brett Lacey
Brett Lacey is an Oklahoma State University alumnus, a registered professional engineer, and a certified safety professional whose dedication to the fire service industry spans over four decades. Along with his academic commitment to fire prevention, Brett’s “boots on the ground” skills and experiences gained from working in firefighter, paramedic, deputy fire marshal, and fire protection engineer positions contribute significantly to his success as fire marshal of the Colorado Springs Fire Department; a rank maintained since 1998.
Throughout Fire Marshal Lacey’s leadership, an extensive timeline of accomplishments by his Division of the Fire Marshal show the bureau is a vanguard in community risk reduction. Three examples of being at the forefront of reducing disaster’s spread by implementing change include mandating Class A roofing materials in 2002, hardening of structures and vegetation management within hillside areas in 2012, and establishing and expanding a nationally renowned and highly reputable Wildfire Mitigation program from the early 2000s through to today.
Brett retains National Incident Management System (NIMS) competencies and Incident Command System (ICS) certifications for the Incident Commander and the Planning Section Chief positions. Events utilizing those roles include but are in no way limited to severe weather incidents, large scale sporting events plannings, Hurricane Katrina’s victim recovery, Castle West Apartment’s arson investigation, New Life Church’s and Planned Parenthood’s mass shooting incidents, Waldo Canyon’s wildfire/conflagration, and Black Forest’s wildfire. Additional examples of Mr. Lacey’s dedication to the fire prevention industry include current and past participation on the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) executive board, chairing and co-chairing training manual technical committees, co-authoring two IFSTA Fire Protection Publication textbooks (Fire Prevention Applications Second Edition and Fire Prevention Applications for the Company Officers First Edition), sitting on the Company Officer Seventh Edition training manual’s technical committee, and representing the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) through involvement with NFPA standards 1030, 1300, and 1750.
A final professional note: the tradition of fire fighting within the Lacey family includes three generations, Brett’s father, Brett, and one of Brett’s children. Brett is very proud that the legacy has excellent potential to continue beyond them.
Fire Administrative Services Manager – Chris Pappas
Chris Pappas joined the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) in December of 2020.
He is a proud Colorado Springs native and brings a significant amount of experience to his role as Fire Administrative Services Manager. This position has oversight of the CSFD budget, statistics and reporting functions, strategic planning, and acts as the CSFD liaison to the Colorado Springs Information Technology organization.
Chris started his career in Colorado Springs working for a Department of Defense contractor providing financial support for a division of Ford Motor Company and then took his talents to MCI where he spent over 20 years in a highly dynamic and competitive environment. During his tenure at MCI/Verizon, Chris managed annual budgets well over $1B, led a variety of teams across the globe, managed large software development projects, drove strategy and planning functions, and helped MCI emerge from bankruptcy as a viable and attractive organization.
Chris received both a Bachelor of Science degree (emphasis on finance) as well as a Master of Business Administration degree (emphasis on accounting) from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. His roots are deep in the local community enjoys spending time with family and friends. It is with great pride that he serves the community in which he was born and raised as an employee of the Colorado Springs Fire Department.
Human Resources Manager – Angela Hines
Angela Hines has served in the role of Fire Human Resources Manager since January 2013. She has oversight of all human resources functions for the department which include payroll, recruitment, hiring and promotional processes, compensation/benefits, and employee relations. She works with a team of three awesome HR professionals who provide support to over 500 employees. Angela has over 16 years of HR management experience and worked in the Biotech and Public Health fields in Santa Fe, NM, before returning to her hometown of Colorado Springs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from Colorado College and an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies from Santa Fe Community College. Angela’s favorite thing about working for the fire department is the people, and she enjoys sharing meals with station crews or throwing pizza parties for civilian personnel.