Ken Pimlott is currently the director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the highlight of a career that began 33 years ago as a reserve firefighter in Contra Costa County, California.

Ken is highly focused on the protection of citizens and natural resources. He has championed local control of fire prevention through fuels management, land recovery, and reforestation. Throughout his career, Ken has focused on gaining broad experience in all areas of fire management, including command and control, cooperative fire protection programs, training, and safety.

In the face of historic droughts and a dramatic increase in the occurrence of massive wildfires, Ken has been able to leverage cooperation and integration among federal, state, and local firefighters. In 2016, he was recognized with the California State Association of Counties Distinguished Service Award.