Leadership Team

Chief Scoggins has more than 30 years of experience in the fire service. He started his firefighting career as a member of the United States Air Force where he served as a firefighter. In 1989, Scoggins joined the Glendale Fire Department where he advanced through the ranks serving as Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, and Battalion Chief and in 2008 being named as Fire Chief. Scoggins has a Master’s degree in Public Administration received from Cal State University Long Beach and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Cal State University Los Angeles. He also has an Associate of Science degree in Fire Technology from Glendale Community College. In April 2015, Scoggins became the Chief of the Seattle Fire Department.

Helen Fitzpatrick oversees the Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology and Public Affairs divisions. She has served in a variety of positions during her more than 15 years with the department, including Executive Director of Staff, Communications Director and Public Information Officer. She has an Executive Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington and a Master’s Degree in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. She is also a graduate of the 2007 City of Seattle Leadership Institute.

Assistant Chief Tim Munnis has more than 20 years with the Seattle Fire Department. He started his career with Seattle in 1997 and advanced through the ranks of firefighter, lieutenant, captain and battalion chief. Munnis was promoted to Assistant Chief on November 1, 2017. He has had various assignments in the department to include serving at Station 11, Station 13, Station16, Station 22, Station 27, Station 31, Station 32 and in the Fire Prevention Division as the Captain of Special Events.

Assistant Chief Bryan Hastings has more than 30 years with the Seattle Fire Department. Hastings started his career with Seattle in 1987 and was promoted to Battalion Chief in 2002, Deputy Chief in 2011 and Assistant Chief in 2017. He has had various assignments in the department to include serving at Station 13, Station 25 and Station 28. Hastings served at the Operations Shift Commander and as the Deputy Chief of Training.

Assistant Chief Chris Lombard has been active in the fire service for more than 30 years. He has responded to multiple significant incidents, including New York City on 9/11, major landslides and hurricanes throughout the Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Pacific - all in support of incident communications and information management.

Nationally, he is chair of the US Department of Commerce’s FirstNet Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC); vice chair of the Department of Homeland Security’s public safety advisory group, SAFECOM; chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Communications Committee; and serves on the National Fire Protection Association 1225 committee.

He has helped with development of multiple national documents, including the U.S. National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP), the IAFF/IAFC/FEMA Communications Best Practices guide and the evaluation of statewide communications interoperability plans (SCIPs).

Chief Lombard has a B.S. in Geography from Oregon State University and has lectured and taught Emergency Response classes at Dartmouth College and at Texas A&M University. He has testified before Congress on national, first responder and communications-related needs/issues.

Sarah Lee previously worked as an Assistant City Attorney in the Employment Section of the City Attorney's Office. She has practiced law for 25 years and is also a court-appointed arbitrator for King and Pierce County Superior Courts and has served as a mediator for the Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution in Tacoma, Washington  Ms. Lee's experience includes service as an Administrative Law Judge Pro Tem for the Office of Administrative Hearings in Olympia, Washington. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from Seattle University Law School in 1997, and a Bachelor's degree in Politics and Government with a minor in Public Administration from the University of Puget Sound in 1994.

Chris Santos manages the Finance Division of the Seattle Fire Department. He was born and raised in Seattle and is of Native Hawaiian descent. He has served in many capacities over his 24 years of service with the department, overseeing and performing the various financial functions such as budgeting, accounting, payroll and contracting. He has a Bachelor's Degree from Western Washington University where he majored in Accounting and had a minor in Business Administration. He is also a graduate of the 2008 City of Seattle Leadership Institute.

Kim Schmanke joined Seattle Fire as its Director of Public Affairs in 2018. She has more than 20 years of experience in public sector communications and outreach. Her division provides fire and life safety education; coordinates tours, visits and outreach; and responds to media and public inquiries about incidents. Kim graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor's in Communications.