Gresham names Derik Minard as permanent Fire Chief

The City of Gresham is proud to announce that Derik Minard has been appointed as the permanent Fire Chief following his tenure as Interim Fire Chief since January 2025. With decades of experience and a steadfast commitment to public safety, Chief Minard is well-positioned to lead the Gresham Fire Department forward and will be sworn in as Fire Chief on April 1 at 6:00 pm, during the City Council business meeting.

“In my time working with Chief Minard, I have been continually impressed by his strong leadership, extensive expertise, and dedication to both his team and the community,” said Gresham City Manager Eric Schmidt. “His vision and experience make him the right person to guide the department forward, and we are fortunate to have him in this role.”

Minard’s appointment follows a thorough national search conducted in partnership with Workplace Change, launched after former Fire Chief Scott Lewis announced his retirement. 

The selection process was highly competitive, with 40 candidates undergoing two rounds of screening interviews. Finalists then participated in a full day of interviews, which included a panel of external Fire Chiefs from six regional fire departments.

Reflecting on his leadership philosophy, Chief Minard shared, “The success of this department is measured by the morale, growth, and well-being of our firefighters and emergency responders. When people ask about my legacy, my answer is simple—it’s about the people.”

Bringing 34 years of fire service experience, Minard has previously served as Fire Chief in Westminster, Colorado, and Savannah, Georgia. Throughout his career, he has held every rank within the fire service and earned a Master of Science in Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration. He is also a certified Executive Fire Officer (EFO) through the National Fire Academy.