Director Don Parker has been a member of the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Board since 2014. Director Parker has served as President and Vice President, and has chaired various Board subcommittees.

Chief Parker was a member of the California fire service for over 41 years. He began his career in the fire service in 1966 with the Oakland Fire Department where he retired as an Assistant Fire Chief in 1999. He later served as Fire Chief at the City of Vallejo from 1999 to 2007.

Chief Parker has been a first responder to some of the state’s largest natural disasters.  In 1989, he was part of the City’s overhead management team that coordinated response and recovery efforts following the Loma Prieta earthquake.  In 1991, he served as one of the fire ground commanders who fought the Oakland Hills firestorm.  He has also been an ardent advocate of better earthquake and fire safety measures and is recognized as an international expert on matters of government response and recovery to earthquakes.  Chief Parker lectured in Japan and has counseled colleagues in England and Germany on state of the art measures for disaster prevention.  Civic leaders in Florida, Kentucky, Oregon, Washington, Maryland and Arizona, in addition to several communities in California, have consulted with Chief Parker for his insight and advice in disaster prevention.  

A Vietnam veteran, Chief Parker served in the United States Navy.  Serving as an active Mason, he led numerous charitable events, most notably for the Oakland Scottish Rite Children’s Language Disorder Clinic.

Chief Parker grew up in Oakland and is a graduate of the Oakland public school system.  In 1999, he was honored by the Marcus A. Foster Educational Institute as the recipient of the Distinguished Oakland Public Schools Alumnus of the Year award.  

Chief Parker has been a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Fire Protection Association, International Association of Firefighters, and California Fire Chiefs Association.  Chief Parker is a former member of the California State Seismic Safety Commission and was elected chairman in 2007.  

A resident of the Town of Danville, Don and his wife Nancy have been married since 1964 and have two children.

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