Long Beach (Calif.) Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations Steve Lewis has been named the next chief of Newport Beach (Calif.) Fire Department. Lewis, 54, will replace Newport Beach Fire Chief Tim Riley, who will retire at the end of November after 15 years as head of the department.

Lewis joins the Newport Beach department with 25 years of experience and was selected from a pool of 65 applicants. “Steve Lewis is an impressive firefighting professional," said Newport Beach City Manager Moer Blaudau. “[He] will fit into our fire department, our city organization and our community very well.”

As deputy chief of operations in Long Beach, Lewis most recently has been responsible for the daily operations involving the city’s two dozen fire stations and the department’s 412 staff members. His first day on the job in Newport Beach will be November 13.