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 Emergency Medical Services – Jayme McConnellogue
Jayme McConnellogue is a 26-year veteran of the Colorado Springs Fire Department currently serving as the Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services, where she is responsible for the emergent and non-emergent 911 medical response for the City of Colorado Springs. She leads the Medical and Community and Public Health Divisions that staff 41 civilians, 9 sworn staff, and a team of 8 Medical Directors. She is also responsible for the Health and Wellness Division protecting and enhancing firefighters’ mental and physical health.
Prior to her initial appointment as Deputy Chief of Operations, Jayme served eighteen months as a Battalion Chief in the Operations Division, then 4 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 professionally and compassionately help people receive the right care, at the right time, with the right resources, for the right cost through multiple innovative tiered response programs.
Jayme began her career in 1998 as a Firefighter and has risen through the ranks promoting to Paramedic, Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief and currently serving as Deputy Chief. She was appointed to the state-wide Responder Strong Advisory Board and the Peer Support Advisory Board for the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters. She is also a committee member of 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 forty-person 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. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Accounting from the University of Phoenix.
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).
Fire Marshal – Kris Cooper
Fire Marshal Cooper is a Colorado Springs native has been a member of the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD), served this community since 1997. His career spans almost four decades as he began serving in the fire service in 1988. In his time with CSFD, he has worked as a Fire Inspector, Plans Examiner, Unit Supervisor, and Deputy Fire Marshal. Prior to working in Colorado Springs, he worked as a Firefighter and Fire Inspector in Summit County, Colorado.
Kris graduated from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program and has received designation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence as Fire Marshal. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.
Throughout his career, Kris has had a strong dedication to community risk reduction efforts with a goal of enhancing community safety through reasonable application of fire codes and standards. He has been involved with the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) on several curriculum validation committees for fire service training manuals and is currently serving as a technical committee member for National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1030 – Fire Inspector and Plan Examiner Professional Qualifications.
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.