Fire Chief Don Lombardi has served the West Metro Fire Protection District since 1991. Leading up to his current role, Chief Lombardi has had the distinct honor to serve in the fire service in the promotional ranks of lieutenant, captain, assistant fire chief, and deputy fire chief. Prior to joining West Metro, Chief Lombardi was a K-2 physical education instructor and varsity coach with Denver Public Schools. He has a Master's degree in Public Administration from Grand Canyon University, a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education from the University of Colorado, his K-12 teaching degree with an emphasis in coaching, and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program with the National Fire Academy.
As fire chief, Chief Lombardi leads one of the largest fire districts and EMS providers in the state of Colorado, serving West Metro's population of approximately 300,000 citizens, covering 108 square miles. West Metro is one of only 117 agencies in the world to be an internationally accredited fire agency that also holds an ISO Class 1 rating. Chief Lombardi is responsible for the service delivery of all facets of life safety, fire suppression, all hazards response and the District's emergency medical response.
Chief Lombardi is also the sponsoring agency chief for Colorado Task Force 1 (CO-TF1), FEMA Urban Search and Rescue. He has served on the Strategic Group for FEMA's USAR system since 2011. Chief Lombardi co-authored the Colorado Firefighters Heart and Cancer Benefit legislation and is immediate past chairperson of the Colorado Firefighters Heart and Cancer Benefit Trust. He has served as president for the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, is a past president of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs' executive board, is on the Colorado Fallen Firefighters Foundation board of directors, and is a past president of the Metro Denver Fire Chiefs' Association.
The Colorado Special District Association chose West Metro as the 2021 Special District of the Year, and Chief Lombardi was recently awarded the 2022 Fire Chief of the Year from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. In 2023, The Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association honored Chief Lombardi with the Russell Sanders Lifetime Achievement Award, and he was awarded the Cross of Merit from the Fire EUropean (FEU).
Chief Lombardi is on the Federal Bureau of Prisons' community relations board, Foothills Credit Union board, and is a graduate of Leadership Jefferson County.