Huntington Beach names Eric McCoy as Fire Chief

New Chief born and raised in Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach, Calif. – Eric McCoy has been selected as the Fire Chief for the City of Huntington Beach.

In his role, he will be responsible for overseeing the operation, services, and activities of the Huntington Beach Fire Department (HBFD), including Administration, Emergency Operations, Community Risk Reduction, and Marine Safety.

Born and raised in Huntington Beach, Eric was hired by the City of Huntington Beach in 1997 as an Ocean Lifeguard and Ambulance Operator. He worked briefly for the Fountain Valley Fire Department, before returning to Huntington Beach Fire in 2006 as a Firefighter and Paramedic. Over his tenure with the HBFD, Eric has held numerous ancillary roles, including Public Information Officer, Marine Safety Division Chief, and most recently Deputy Chief of Operations. As the Deputy Chief of Operations, Eric implemented numerous programs and technologies that aided in increasing operational efficiencies and doubling Fire Department revenue.

Eric obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Long Beach, and his Masters in Organizational Leadership from Columbia Southern University. He is currently enrolled in the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy and is anticipated to graduate in April 2025.

Eric resides in Huntington Beach with his wife and three kids. In his downtime, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and serving at his local church.

As Fire Chief, Eric looks forward to continuing to develop future leaders in the organization, building upon the Fire Department's legacy of quality service, and innovating the current response model to best meet the evolving needs of our community.