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The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District is set to be under new leadership in the new year, with its longtime chief stepping down and passing the torch to a deputy chief who he’s been preparing for the role.
SRVFPD Chief Paige Meyer’s last day on the job is set for Jan. 7, 2026, with Deputy Chief of Operations Jonas Aguiar set to step in as chief the next day, following a vote by the district’s board of directors last week.
“Jonas Aguilar is an exceptional leader and a person of great integrity,” Meyer said in a press release Tuesday. “I am incredibly proud of him and confident in his ability to lead this organization forward. We have worked closely together for many years, and I look forward to the continued success of the District under his leadership.”
The announcement signals the end of a nearly 13-year tenure as chief for Meyer, who said that he and the district accomplished “more than I ever could have imagined” during that time.
“What made everything we accomplished possible was the people,” Meyer said. “I have had the privilege of working alongside what I truly believe are the best firefighters and staff in the country, supported by an outstanding Fire Board and some of the strongest labor–management relationships I’ve seen in my career. This was not just a job—it was a dream role, made special by incredible people at every level of the organization.”
“When you have firefighters who care deeply about their mission, a Board that is engaged and supportive, and labor partners who work collaboratively toward common goals, extraordinary things can happen,” he continued. “I am incredibly proud of what this team accomplished together.”
SRVFPD officials pointed to fiscal sustainability, an ISO Class 1 rating, the city’s new Regional Fire Training Center, public safety complex, fire-first behavioral health crisis response, and new fire stations as among the highlights of the district’s accomplishments under Meyer’s leadership.
“Chief Meyer’s leadership transformed this organization,” SRVFPD Board President Matthew Stamey said in Tuesday’s press release. “His commitment to fiscal responsibility, collaboration, and community trust strengthened the District in lasting ways. We are deeply grateful for his service and leadership.”
Aguiar, a 20-year veteran with the district, was appointed by the board as Meyer’s successor on Dec. 17 after a “comprehensive recruitment and interview process,” SRVFPD officials said.
Meyer’s upcoming retirement will mark the end of a more than 30-year career in firefighting and public safety.
“I have been truly honored to serve a community that values public safety and deeply supports its firefighters,” Meyer said. “The residents of the San Ramon Valley care about the people who protect them, and that support makes all the difference. Serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”
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