Cal Fire SLO appoints Keith Tsudama deputy chief of operations
Keith Tsudama.
Veteran firefighter to begin new leadership role March 16
– Cal Fire San Luis Obispo Unit Chief John Owens has announced the appointment of Keith Tsudama as the new deputy chief of operations for the San Luis Obispo Unit, effective March 16.
Tsudama brings more than 20 years of fire service experience to the position. He began his career in 2002 with the United States Forest Service before joining Cal Fire in 2003.
During his career, Tsudama has served in several leadership roles, including firefighter, engineer, fire captain, battalion chief, and assistant chief. He has worked in operations, training, and specialized rescue programs, and has participated in statewide incident management efforts coordinating large emergency responses across California.
Most recently, Tsudama served as assistant chief in the San Benito-Monterey Unit, where he oversaw community risk reduction efforts and the unit’s training program.
Tsudama has also contributed to firefighter training across the state as a registered State Fire Training instructor and as a faculty member at the Monterey Peninsula College Fire Academy. He currently serves as deputy incident commander for Cal Fire Incident Management Team 6 and recently served as operations chief with the Monterey County Urban Search and Rescue Team.
Tsudama lives in Paso Robles with his wife, Ashley, and his stepdaughters, Hope and Autumn.
“Chief Tsudama’s experience, leadership, and commitment to training and operational excellence make him a tremendous addition to the San Luis Obispo Unit leadership team,” Owens said.
