McQuistion named Clinton fire chief

Mar. 27—Mike McQuistion will serve as Clinton's new fire chief, the city announced this week.

McQuistion, who is currently the Clinton Fire Department battalion chief, will become the 12th fire chief in the 134-year history of the department, effective May 28. As fire chief, he will oversee 50 full-time fire fighters and five Building and Neighborhood Service employees along with an annual department budget of $6.5 million.

"I am extremely pleased to have Chief McQuistion as our next fire chief. He has impressive qualifications and well-rounded experience working with the Clinton Fire Department," Clinton City Administrator Matt Brooke said. "Mike's passion for the fire service is infectious, and he has a reputation as being a leader that others want to follow. He is visionary, dedicated, and team focused with a desire to foster innovation, collaborate and mentor the next generation of fire service leaders which will benefit the Clinton community and Fire Department employees."

McQuistion, born and raised in the Clinton area, began his career with CFD as a firefighter paramedic and has risen through the ranks over the last 25 years. As battalion chief, he is responsible for one of the department's three shifts. He leads a team on a daily basis through a wide variety of emergent and non-emergent events. He serves as an incident commander on emergency scenes, assists in training and operations along with the assistant chiefs.

McQuistion earned a bachelor's degree in fire administration and an associate degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He holds a paramedic certificate from Eastern Iowa Community College.

McQuistion is honored and excited to continue his career with the Clinton Fire Department. He and his wife Karen, look forward to the new journey.

The city retained the services of Mason City Fire Chief Erik Bullinger, to oversee an assessment process with a team of three fire chiefs from Dubuque, Rock Island, Illinois, and Sterling, Illinois. The process started with five candidates but an applicant from another state declined moving forward. McQuistion, Assistant Chief Jeff Chapman, Lieutenant Kurt VanDellen and Lieutenant Ryan Winkler participated in the all-day assessment to measure behaviors that mimic the competencies, attributes and job performance skills that would be expected of a candidate to successfully fulfill the role of the position fire chief at Clinton.

McQuistion received the highest score and the unanimous recommendation from the panel.

All four alsop interviewed with a city team that included Clinton Mayor Scott Maddasion, Councilmembers Rhonda Kearns and Gregg Obren, department heads Susie Mesecher and Brian Lemke with Brooke facilitating and participating as well. The interview focused on leadership, management, scenario-based issues and concerns of the CFD and an ability to have each candidate express why they would make the best chief. The interview panel unanimously selected McQuistion.

Per code, the city administrator makes a recommendation for chief that is subject to Council approval.