City of Torrance Fire Department

Executive Management Team 

 David Dumais

Fire Chief

Chief Dumais grew up in Torrance, California and is a graduate of Torrance High School.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills and an Associate of Science Degree from El Camino Community College. 

Chief Dumais started his fire service career as a Paramedic with the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1984.  He then spent some time with the Inglewood Fire Department in 1987. Chief Dumais was hired by the Torrance Fire Department in October of 1987. He served his first three years as a Firefighter assigned to an Engine Company and was then reassigned to the Fire Prevention Division as a Fire Investigator from 1990 - 1992.  He then spent the next two years assigned as a Firefighter Paramedic.  In 1994, he was promoted to Fire Engineer and in 1996 he was promoted to Fire Captain. During his tenure as a Fire Captain, he helped to command two recruit training academies and train numerous probationary Firefighter and Engineers. In 2003, he was promoted to Battalion Chief supervising the “A” Platoon. As a Battalion Chief, he served as the program director for Hazardous Materials Emergency Response and Specialized Emergency Response.   In December 2006, Chief Dumais was promoted to Deputy Fire Chief. 

Chief Dumais has been a member of the City's Emergency Preparation Advisory Team working in the areas of Emergency management, EOC activation, secondary EOC development, Exercise design and planning, Hazard Mitigation planning, and critical Infrastructure identification.

Most recently, Chief Dumais has provided oversight of the Torrance Refining Company, LLC as the Refinery Safety Coordinator. Chief Dumais' mission is to maintain Community safety by providing oversight of the Planning and Coordination of Refinery Operations which impact the Community as well as planning and review of Emergency Operations procedures and to ensure application of local agreements are followed between the Refinery and the City of Torrance.

Chief Dumais participates in the California State Refinery legislative and regulatory processes and is Co-Chair for the California Inter-agency Refinery taskforce (IRTF) Training workgroup. 

Alec Miller

Deputy Fire Chief

Operations Division

Deputy Chief Miller was born and raised in Covina, California.  Previous work experience includes work as a carpenter and a licensed general contractor. He started his fire service career as a Reserve Firefighter with the City of La Verne and attended Mount San Antonio. Deputy Chief Miller was hired as a full-time firefighter with the City of Vernon in February of 1998 and then with the City of Torrance in February of 2001. 

He served as a Firefighter (6 mos.) Firefighter/Paramedic (3 years), Engineer (3 years), Captain (9 years) and was lead instructor for several Torrance training towers.   In 2015 he was assigned as Special Services Captain, which was responsible for Fire Department facilities, apparatus and personal protective equipment.  Upon promotion to Assistant Chief, he managed the newly developed Logistics Division (3 years) and the EMS Division (3 years).  While managing the EMS Division, he developed and implemented the TFD Patient Transportation Program, bringing transport for all ALS and BLS patients in-house.

Deputy Chief Miller now oversees the Operations Division and oversees the three Platoon Commanders to ensure consistency on each shift. The Operations Division provides leadership, direction, and oversight for fire suppression, training, hazardous materials, technical rescue, EMS and specialized emergency response programs. In addition, the Operations Division oversees domestic preparedness and disaster management. Chief Miller is the Chair of the South Bay Fire Chiefs Operations Section, Region 1 California Incident Command Certification System (CICCS) committee and represents Torrance on the Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association Operations committee.

Duane Sweeton

Assistant Chief

Training Division

Chief Sweeton was born and raised in Long Beach, California. He graduated from Millikan High School. Chief Sweeton married his high school sweetheart. They have 10 children together as well as grandchildren. He received an Associates of Science degree with Honors in Fire Technology from Long Beach Community College. He later received a second Associates of Science degree with Honors in Fire Technology with an emphasis on Paramedic Studies from El Camino College. He graduated from Rio Hondo Fire Academy number one in his class and was awarded the Area E Outstanding Cadet award. He began his career with the Torrance Fire Department in 1998 as a firefighter. In 2000, he attended the Paramedic Training Institute in Los Angeles. He graduated number one in his class and was assigned as a Firefighter Paramedic. He took a very active role in this position serving as an EMT, CPR, and Lead AED instructor, Paramedic Preceptor, Communicable Disease Instructor, EMS Supply Officer, as well as other projects and roles. He served as the Auxiliary Firefighter Coordinator and joined the CISM/Peer Support Team. Chief Sweeton was promoted to Fire Engineer in 2004. He was promoted to Fire Captain in 2006. Chief Sweeton served as an Engine Captain, a Truck Company Captain for 10 years, and a HazMat Captain for 6 years. In this role he continued a heavy involvement within the department. He served as a founding member of the Fire Safety Advisory Committee, The Technical Rescue Committee, Recruit Tower Instructor and Lead Instructor, Department Trench Rescue Officer/ Instructor, Shift Low Angle Rescue Coordinator/ Instructor, and Department Haz-Mat Training Officer. He has authored multiple promotional and specialty assignment exams. His leadership in Haz-Mat has extended beyond the fire department to the regional and state level. He is a CSTI Outreach Haz-Mat Instructor, was a member of the regional teaching cadre of the JHAT unit of the Los Angeles Fire Department, served as the Lead Training Seat and overall Lead Chair for the Region 1 Local Emergency Planning Committee, and as such, was a member of the State Emergency Response Committee. Chief Sweeton has also served as a Subject Matter Expert in petrochemical response with the Region 1 Regional Training Group. Chief Sweeton served in a leadership role for several years as the program lead of the CISM/Peer Support Program after serving in the program for 23 years and has served the fire service as a speaker at international conferences in the peer support community. Chief Sweeton served as the Platoon Commander for A shift and was the Program Director for the Communications/IT Division. Chief Sweeton currently manages the Training Division and is also the current Lead Chair for the South Bay Joint Powers Authority INSB Governance Board and a member of the ICI Board, as well as multiple committees and special projects.

Kevin Millikan

Assistant Chief

Planning Division

Assistant Chief Kevin Millikan was raised in La Crescenta, CA and graduated from Crescenta Valley High School in 1992. After graduating, he attended Pepperdine University and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Medicine.

Assistant Chief Millikan began his fire service career as a firefighter with the Vernon Fire Department in 1998. In 2000, he was hired by the Torrance Fire Department where he has held the ranks of Firefighter, Firefighter/Paramedic, Engineer and Captain. Assistant Chief Millikan has been actively involved in the department by developing operational policies as a member of the Fire Suppression Advisory Committee, serving as a recruit academy lead instructor, instructing in firefighter survival techniques, rapid intervention crew (RIC) tactics and wildland urban interface firefighting. He has fulfilled assignments as the department’s Training Officer, Safety Officer and EMS Captain. In addition, he has served as a member of the department’s Peer Support/Critical Incident Stress Management Team.

In January of 2018, after promoting to Assistant Chief, Chief Millikan was assigned to the Support Services Division. Currently, he is leading the Planning Division and provides oversight of the Department’s Strategic Plan, Standards of Cover, deployment modeling, data analytics, and legislation. He is also integrally involved in maintaining our status of an Accredited Agency with the Center for Public Safety Excellence, CPSE. 

Tim Behen

Assistant Chief

Specialized Operations Division

Chief Tim Behen grew up in the City of Torrance and graduated from North Torrance High School. He received an Associates Degree in Fire Technology from El Camino College and Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Administration from Columbia Southern University.

Chief Behen started his Fire Service Career with the Manhattan Beach Fire Department as a Paid-Call Firefighter in 2000 after graduating from the El Camino College Fire Academy. In 2002, Chief Behen was hired by the City of Vernon as Firefighter where he served for five years. In 2007, he was hired with the Torrance Fire Department and a year later attended Paramedic School at PTI. He spent the next six years serving the citizens as a Firefighter/Paramedic on an Engine and Rescue. In 2014, Chief Behen was promoted to Fire Engineer where he helped revamp the Auxiliary Program and served as an instructor for the 2016 Recruit Tower. In 2017, ChiefBehen was promoted to Fire Captain. During his tenure as Captain, he has worked as both and an Engine and Truck Captain in the Operation Division. He was a lead instructor for the 2017 and 2018 Recruit Towers where he played a key role in Probationary Firefighter development. Chief Behen has also served as a member of the Fire Suppression Advisory Committee where he was an instructor for Rapid Intervention Crew Training, Fire Ground Survival Training, Search and Rescue Training, and is the liaison between the Torrance Fire and Police Departments for Emergency Response to Violent Incidents Training.

In July of 2022, he was appointed to the position of Chief Adjutant, where he worked closely with the Fire Chief on special projects. Since then he has also served as the Training Captain overseeing all in service training and BLS Coordinator supervising and leading the BLS Transport Program.  Chief Behen was promoted to Captain in 2017 and was assigned to manage the Logistics Division.

Chief Behen was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief in 2024 and is now managing the Specialized Operations Division.

Blayne Baker

Assistant Chief

Communications/IT Division

Assistant Chief Blayne Baker was born and raised in Lancaster California and graduated from Paraclete High School in 1992. Leaving the High Desert, he attended the University of California (Irvine) and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Humanities. Shortly after, Assistant Chief Baker graduated from Santa Ana College with an Associates Degree in Fire Science.

Assistant Chief Baker began his fire service career as an Ambulance Operator with the Downey Fire Department in 1999. In 2001, he joined the Torrance Fire Department where he has held the ranks of Firefighter, Firefighter/Paramedic, Engineer, and Captain. Assistant Chief Baker has been actively involved in the department by serving as a CERT Coordinator and Technical Rescue Instructor, achieving California State Certified Training Officer status in 2017. Most recently, he was instrumental in bringing technological and EMS advancements to the Torrance Fire Department. For the majority of his career, Assistant Chief Baker has served local youth by acting as the Chair for the Torrance Firefighters Scholarship Foundation, in partnership with the Torrance Unified School District. In 2020, he was appointed to the EMS Division and served as the EMS Captain for two years before promoting to Assistant Chief in January of 2022.

As an integral member of the TFD Command Staff, Chief Baker leads the Communications/IT Division, with over two decades of fire operations and emergency response experience . In a prior role, Chief Baker managed the Specialized Operations Division and was assigned as a regional training coordinator (funded by a Homeland Security Grant). His mission was to ensure the 9,000+ firefighters in the Los Angeles area were trained on the basics of all special operations and able to operate within a common command system. Chief Baker endeavors to leverage this experience and regional relationships to ensure Torrance Fire Department personnel are trained and equipped to respond to an all-hazard environment.

Adam Brown

Assistant Chief

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division

Assistant Chief Brown was born and raised in Torrance, where he continues to live with his wife and two kids. After graduating from North Torrance High School in 2003, he earned an Associate of Science degree from El Camino Community College and is currently working to complete his bachelor’s degree from Columbia Southern University.

Assistant Chief Brown began his fire service career as a Los Angeles County Fire Explorer in 2001, worked as an EMT for McCormick Ambulance, graduated from the El Camino Fire Academy in 2006, and completed the PTI Paramedic program in 2007. In 2008, Assistant Chief Brown was hired by the Los Angeles Fire Department and after two years, was hired with the Torrance Fire Department in June 2010. In 2012, he became a Firefighter/Paramedic and paramedic preceptor, joined various committees, became certified in technical rescue, and helped build and advise the Fire Explorer program. Chief Brown was promoted to Fire Engineer in 2017 and began teaching Fire Technology at El Camino College, coordinated various promotional exams, and contributed to the department’s strategic plan. In 2019, he was promoted to Fire Captain, joining the Fire Suppression Advisory Committee, Technical Rescue Committee, and taught the 2021 Training Tower. In January 2022, Chief Brown was appointed Chief Adjutant, serving as the Public Information Officer, and assisted the Fire Chief with special projects including the 2022 Promotional Ceremony and professional development programs. In July 2022, he became the temporary Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal, overseeing the Community Risk Reduction Division, building the Fire Investigation unit, and acting as the fire liaison for city events.

Assistant Chief Brown was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief in January 2023 and currently leads the EMS Division. In his role, he serves as the LAAFCA EMS Chair and Area G PAAC representative, and oversees the division's responsibilities, including ensuring quality pre-hospital care, continuing education, EMS supplies, professional development and certifications, legislative reviews, community health initiatives, and various programs such as Patient Transportation, Public Access Defibrillators, and Tactical Emergency Medical Services.

Kevin Carter

Captain

Logistics Division

Captain Kevin Carter was raised in Torrance and attended local schools while graduating from West High School in 1987.   Captain Carter attended college at UCSD and graduated with a degree in Biology in 1992.  With family in the fire service, Captain Carter decided to attend El Camino College, taking fire science in pursuit of becoming a firefighter.  After graduating from El Camino Fire Academy in 1993, Captain Carter worked with Manhattan Beach and Gardena Fire Departments as a reserve firefighter.  While attending paramedic school in 1995, Captain Carter was hired with the Torrance Fire Department.  As a member of the TFD, Captain Carter has been involved in different areas of training and operations.  With the new assignment of Logistics, Captain Carter looks forward to a new challenge in his career.

Richard Kazandjian

Fire Marshal

Community Risk Reduction Division

Fire Marshal Richard Kazandjian was born and raised in Torrance, California and graduated from North Torrance High School in 1993. He is a certified Fire Marshal from the California State Fire Marshal’s Office (CSFM), has an Associates of Science degree in Fire and Emergency Technology from El Camino College and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Fire Administration from California State Los Angeles.

Fire Marshal Kazandjian started his career at Inglewood Fire Department as a Fire Explorer, Auxiliary Firefighter in 1993. He received his EMT and graduated El Camino South Bay Fire Academy in 1995. In 1999 he was hired by Chino Valley Independent Fire District and spent time as a Fire Investigator, Fire Inspector and Public Information Officer (PIO). In 2000 he was hired by Anaheim Fire Department and served in the Fire and Life Safety Division. In 2005 he was hired by Torrance Fire Department as a Senior Fire Inspector and provided technical supervision over fire and life safety programs (Fire Engineering and Hazardous Materials). He was promoted to Fire Prevention Manager/Deputy Fire Marshal in 2016 providing management and supervision to the Community Risk Reduction Division. He was part of Leadership Torrance team in 2017, served as President for the South Bay Fire Prevention Officers Association, Chair Person on Fire code adoption committees, part of the Torrance Economic Development Team and served as a Fire Liaison for Planning Commission meetings. He also serves as the CUPA manager for Torrance Fire and in March of 2022 the Torrance Fire Department, Community Risk Reduction Division was recognized as an Outstanding Agency by the CUPA Forum for CalARP and Refinery Safety.

Richard Kazandjian was promoted to Fire Marshal in July of 2023 and currently provides Leadership and Management to the Community Risk Reduction Division.

Zora Kunich

Administrative Services Manager

Administration Division