Murrieta Fire Chief Receives Prestigious Certification

Murrieta Fire Chief Matt Shobert has successfully completed the process that awards him the esteemed professional designation of chief fire officer, it was announced Monday.

The Commission on Professional Credentialing met Feb. 5 to officially confer the re-designation upon Shobert. He is one of 865 CFOs worldwide, and internationally one of approximately 50 fire chiefs to receive the designation for a fourth time, according to a news release issued by the Murrieta Fire Department.

The Chief Fire Officer Designation program is designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate their excellence in seven measured components, including: Experience, Education, Professional Development, Professional Contributions, Association Membership, Community Involvement and Technical Competency. 

Shobert, who has served as the city's fire chief since March 2011, received his original CFO designation in 2004.

"Years ago I recognized—at least in my opinion—that it would become the standard for fire chiefs," Shobert said. "I wanted to stay ahead of the curve."

To maintain the designation, individuals need to demonstrate they have continued to develop as a CFO in four distinct areas: Professional Development, Professional Contributions, Active Association Membership and comprehensive Community Involvement.

"I have chosen to keep shooting for this because I think a lot goes into meeting the performance criteria," Shobert said.

Once candidates complete the rigorous application process, a board comprised of fire and emergency services professionals, academia and municipal agencies reviews each application and recommends successful candidates for designation by the commission.

Shobert said he has accomplished the designation once again because he has remained an active participant in the field of fire service. This has included writing articles for fire magazines and speaking at conferences, he said.

Prior to coming to Murrieta, Shobert served as chief of the Hemet Fire Department. He began his career in 1985 as a firefighter/EMT with Northwest Fire District in Southern Arizona, where he spent 15 years. He then served eight years with the Sedona Fire District in Sedona, Ariz., three of which were served as fire chief.

"I have stayed involved in the changing fire service and I hope to stay involved," Shobert said.