OCEANSIDE’S FINEST • Rick Robinson

Oceanside's Finest

RICK ROBINSON

WORDS: ELIZABETH SCHWARTZE PHOTO: ZACH CORDNER

Rick Robinson made protecting the public his career. On July 29, 2022, Robinson retired as Oceanside’s Fire Chief after 45 years of fire service. Public service is a calling, and as Oceanside’s Finest, Robinson embodies the selflessness required to serve for the greater good. Thankfully for Oceanside, he chose this beautiful city to call his home.

Robinson was born in Lompoc, California, while his father was stationed there with the Coast Guard. His family transferred down to Long Beach, and he grew up in Garden Grove. He graduated from San Clemente High School, and attended Cypress College. Rick began his career path to be a pharmacist, but decided to try the fire service instead. In 1977, he landed his first job with the Rincon del Diablo Fire Protection District in Escondido. He transferred to Orange County in 1980, where he served 36 years with the Orange County Fire Authority from 1980 to 2013, when he first retired. Not long after that first retirement, he was called to work part-time for the City of Oceanside Fire Department in 2014. He was selected for Fire Chief in 2016, and retired for the second time this past July 29, 2022.

Since his father served in the military, Robinson felt a calling to serve as well, and joined the Navy reserves in his 30s, and served for eight years. Robinson and his wife settled in Oceanside in 1988—considering it a perfect location, and easy access to his job in Orange County. All four of his children graduated from El Camino High School. When Robinson looks back at his career, he was honored to spend his final years of service in his home city of Oceanside. Investing in Oceanside’s youth is one of his proudest achievements. Oceanside Fire Explores, and the EMT program are model programs. “I can’t take

“Fire Explorers also introduced a lot of females to a career service with the fire department, and we need more female firefighters”

full credit for Fire Explorers, but I was able to support the program, find the money for it, and meet with the first group of Explorers. Fire Explorers also introduced a lot of females to a career service with the fire department, and we need more female firefighters,” he stated. Robinson is also proud of Oceanside’s EMT program; which he views as an investment in our youth.

When he started in 2016, he couldn’t have anticipated the challenges that 2020 would bring. “I’m very proud of how the city took the COVID challenge. It was one of our biggest challenges, and the administration really worked through that challenge— everyone stepped up. There was a lot of pressure to close our beaches, but we kept them open for our residents. It was a big deal, and I’m really proud as a resident, and a city staff member,” Robinson emphasized.

Right before his retirement, in July 2022, the Oceanside Fire Department unveiled the Everett Stephens Fire Training Tower. It’s a four-story, state-of-the-art fire training facility. Finally, as Fire Chief, Robinson oversaw the City of Oceanside Lifeguard Service. Learning the intricate and continuous work that goes into protecting our beaches and citizens made an impression, and he appreciates the challenges our lifeguards face every day of the year.

As his home for 34 years, Robinson and his wife are deeply invested in Oceanside. Rick's currently running to represent District 2 in the upcoming Oceanside City Council election in November. He’s a member of 760 American Legion Post. They’re avid supporters of Oceanside Museum of Art, and love attending the events. And, his favorite restaurant? His family’s go-to restaurant is Marieta’s. “That’s our Friday family night. Sometimes it’s just the two of us—and sometimes it’s the whole family.” Thank you, Rick Robinson, for your dedication to Oceanside, and your service to our citizens as Oceanside’s Finest!