Newport names new fire chief

Newport Beach has found its new fire chief in Scott Poster, a 30-year veteran of fire services.

Poster was a deputy chief for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, where he supervised more than 300 employees and a $60-million budget.

He joined L.A. County in 1983 and worked his way up the ranks. His professional history includes stints on regional command teams from the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster to Hurricane Katrina, among others.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in occupational studies and a master’s degree in emergency services administration from Cal State Long Beach.

Poster, whose starting salary is $204,984, has been an Orange County resident for 35 years. He lives with his wife and two children in Aliso Viejo.

He will be the city’s first permanent chief in nearly two years. Steve Lewis retired from the position in March 2010 for personal reasons.

— Joseph Serna

Twitter: @JosephSerna