Cherie Rita joined the department in 1982, and has promoted through the ranks to Fire Chief in 1994. Chief Rita served as the Region IV Operational Area Coordinator from 2004 to 2012. She is a past President and Zone 2 Director of the Fire Districts of California, The Chief was also involved in curriculum development of the California Community College Public Safety, Ethics and Leadership programs that are still in use today. In her spare time, she is a fulltime Paralegal, since 2011, providing administrative support for several attorneys in Davis. Chief Rita has a Bachelors in Business Management - Managing Information Systems and a Masters Degree in the field of Public Administration. Chief Rita has several certifications and licenses including Executive Fire Officer, from the National Fire Academy, Emergency Medical Technician and is a Notary Public.