Chief Bertral Washington is the Deputy Chief of Administration for the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, which serves the largest County in the United States with over 20,000 square miles. He is responsible for overseeing the department’s planning and accreditation, training and safety, emergency medical services, support services (vehicle, warehouse and IT), and community risk reduction efforts.

Chief Washington has over 26 years of experience in the fire service. Before joining San Bernardino County, he led the Clark County (NV) and Pasadena (CA) fire departments as Fire Chief from December 2014 through April 2020, and promoted through the ranks of the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Department from Firefighter to Assistant Fire Chief. He has been instrumental in many unique accomplishments, such as, leading organizations to becoming accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and rated Class 1 by the Insurance Services Office (ISO).

Chief Washington has a strong educational background which includes a Master’s degree in Public Administration (UNLV), a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (Howard University), and an Associate degree in Fire Science Management (College of Southern Nevada). He is also a graduate of the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University’s, John F. Kennedy School of Government, the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute at Dillard University and achieved the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).

Chief Washington lives in Southern California with his wife Cheri and two teenage children.