Matthew Hallock

Fire Chief

The Fire Chief directs, plans, and manages the activities and staff of the Fire Department. This includes formulating the Fire Department’s organization design, mission, goals, rules, policies, and procedures. 

Matthew Hallock comes to Santa Monica from the city of Monterey Park, where he has served as fire chief since 2020.

Chief Hallock brings 24 years of experience in public safety and emergency response, having begun his fire service career as a reserve firefighter in 1994, then returning as a firefighter in 2002 and rising through the ranks. He also has experience working in the private sector, spending four years as an emergency preparedness planner at Southern California Edison.

As chief in Monterey Park, he notably led his department and the community through the pandemic, as well as the tragic shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio.

Chief Hallock has a master’s degree in public policy and administration from California State University, Long Beach and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer program through the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy.