The Montecito Fire Department recognized the recent promotions of four employees with a ceremony at Fire Station 91 to celebrate their professional accomplishments.

Andy Rupp was promoted to fire engineer. Rupp has been a member of our Montecito Fire Department for nine years. While in college at UC San Diego, he did a fire department ride-along and decided to pursue a career as a firefighter.

Rupp was hired by Oxnard Fire Department in 2012, serving the community where he grew up. He joined Montecito Fire in 2016 as a firefighter/paramedic and has been involved in the department as a member of the dispatch cadre; South Coast Hazmat Team, Urban Search & Rescue; and training committee. Rupp also serves as the department’s Peer Support team lead.
 

David Johnson was promoted to fire captain. Johnson joined the Montecito Fire Department in 2017 as a firefighter. He brought more than 12 years of experience from his time with Oxnard City Fire, where he was promoted through the ranks from firefighter to captain.

Before that, Johnson’s fire service career began in South Africa, where he grew up and worked as volunteer firefighter during his high school years. In 2023, he was promoted to engineer and now to captain.
 
Shaun Davis was promoted to battalion chief. Davis has been with Montecito Fire Department for 15 years. Previously, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he gained his first experience in the fire service as a volunteer for the Ft. Bragg Fire Department.

He became a paramedic while interning with San Rafael Fire Department and later worked for Ventura City Fire as a firefighter/paramedic. He came to Montecito Fire in 2010, was promoted to captain in 2016, and now serves as C Shift Battalion chief.

Anthony Hudley was promoted to division chief of operations. Hudley came to Montecito Fire Department five years ago, bringing some 20 years of experience.

His career began as an EMT on Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, where he worked for seven years. Simultaneously, he started his 20-plus year career with Lompoc City Fire Department, where he worked every rank from reserve firefighter to battalion chief.

Over his career with Lompoc, Hudley worked with Montecito Fire during major incidents and mutual aid responses. He joined Montecito Fire as a battalion chief in 2020.