CELINA, TX - The City of Celina is pleased to announce the appointment of Shawn White as its new Fire Chief, who will officially begin his post in early October. Chief White will succeed Chief Mark Metdker, who announced his retirement earlier this year after 16 years of dedicated service to the community.

"I am extremely humbled and honored to be selected as the next Fire Chief for the City of Celina," said Chief White. "I look forward to working with the amazing members of this department to continue to build upon the culture of excellence created by Chief Metdker."

Chief White brings an impressive legacy of leadership and experience to Celina, having served as the 11th Fire Chief of Henderson, Nevada, since September 2017. During his tenure in Henderson, Chief White was instrumental in guiding the city through significant growth, overseeing the opening of four new fire stations and adding over 100 new positions within the department.

Under his leadership, the Henderson Fire Department achieved an ISO Class 1 Classification, placing it in the top 0.5% of fire departments nationwide. The Henderson Fire Department also earned accreditation from the Commission of Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and the Commission of Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), demonstrating its commitment to excellence in emergency response and public safety.

Chief White joined the Henderson Fire Department in 1999, progressing from Firefighter/Paramedic to Captain, Battalion Chief, and Deputy Chief before being named Fire Chief in 2017. Celina's new Fire Chief began his career in fire service in 1989 with the Albuquerque Fire Department where he rose through the ranks from Firefighter/Paramedic to Engineer and Lieutenant over a decade of service.

"We are excited to announce the appointment of Chief Shawn White as the new Fire Chief for the City of Celina. With his exceptional leadership and extensive experience, Chief White is poised to enhance the remarkable legacy of the Celina Fire Department. We warmly welcome him and his wife, Kim, to our community and eagerly anticipate the positive contributions they will make to our City," said Mayor Ryan Tubbs.

"We could not be more excited to have Chief Shawn White join our team here in Celina. His passion, leadership, and vision are exactly what our Fire Department needs as we continue to grow. Chief White was a key player in the incredible expansion of the Henderson Fire Department, and we are excited to see him bring that same level of expertise and innovation to our City. His impressive track record and the fact that Henderson's Fire Department is admired by top departments across the country makes him the perfect fit for Celina," said City Manager Robert Ranc.

Widely respected for his dedication to the fire service's mission and his focus on protecting the lives and well-being of the communities he serves, Chief White's leadership has been central to the development of innovative operational systems and training programs that have been adopted by other departments in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Valley and beyond.

Chief White holds a bachelor's degree in fire science and numerous fire service certifications and licenses. His educational background and extensive field experience make him a highly-qualified leader for the Celina Fire Department.

Chief White and his wife, Kim, have been married for 37 years and have raised three daughters. They are also the proud grandparents of five and look forward to becoming integral members of the Celina community.

The Celina Fire Department, which holds an ISO Class 3 rating and was recently awarded a Best Practices Designation by the Texas Fire Chiefs' Association in July 2024, is poised for continued growth and excellence under Chief White's leadership. The department recently opened Fire Station #3 near the Sutton Fields developments and is currently in the design phase for Fire Station #4. The new station will be part of a Public Safety Campus Master Plan near the Celina Police Headquarters.

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