Coronado City Manager Blair King announced today that Jim Lydon, Fire Chief of the City of Benicia (population 27,000), will succeed retiring Fire Chief Mike Blood.
Chief Lydon was selected after an extensive recruitment, during which the City received applications from 48 prospective candidates. Selected finalists interviewed before three (3) separate panels of Fire Service professionals and the City Manager. Lydon was also subject to a comprehensive background check.
Chief Lydon has nearly 40 years of experience, serving first in the City of San Rafael (population 57,713) and progressing through the ranks from Dispatcher to Battalion Chief. During his four-year tenure as the Fire Chief of Benicia, the City Council appointed Chief Lydon as its Acting City Manager while completing the recruitment to fill the vacant City Manager position. Lydon also led the City’s response to the major Valero refinery incident in Benicia earlier this year.
The new Chief holds a Master’s Degree from Gonzaga University and a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Service Administration from Cogswell Polytechnical College. He maintains an active paramedic license and possesses multiple professional certifications in the fields of emergency response and incident management.
Lydon succeeds Coronado Fire Chief Mike Blood who announced his retirement in May after serving the City of Coronado Fire Department for 28 years.
The City of Coronado Fire Department has 40.5 full-time employees and provides fire protection, emergency medical, disaster preparedness and beach lifeguard services from two fire stations and a central beach lifeguard facility.
Fire Chief Lydon will begin his new duties on October 10, 2017. His initial base salary will be approximately $189,000 annually.
