Gaudenz Panholzer is the 12th Monterey Fire Chief since 1890. Panholzer leads a fire department that serves the cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Sand City, as well as the Presidio of Monterey, Naval Postgraduate School, La Mesa Village and Monterey Regional Airport. The department operates six fire stations and employs 88 people.

Panholzer lives in Carmel and has strong ties to the local community. His career in the fire service began at the Carmel Highlands Fire District in 1977. In addition to his strong field experience, Chief Panholzer has a background in fire training at Monterey Peninsula College, Hartnell College, Cabrillo College and the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium. He also has served as Director of the Monterey County Regional Fire District since 2008.

"It is an honor to serve in the communities I call home, with the highly skilled men and women of the Monterey Fire Department."

Gaudenz Panholzer has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from UC Berkeley, an associates’ degree in Fire Science from MPC and has completed coursework for a master’s degree in Public Administration at San Jose State.