The city of Celina announced the appointment of Shawn White as its new Fire Chief, effective early October. White succeeds Chief Mark Metdker, who retired after 16 years of dedicated service earlier this year.
“We could not be more excited to have Chief Shawn White join our team here in Celina,” said City Manager Robert Ranc in an official statement. “His passion, leadership, and vision are exactly what our fire department needs as we continue to grow. His impressive track record and the recognition of Henderson’s fire department make him the perfect fit for Celina.”
White, who previously served as fire chief in Henderson, Nevada, from Sept. 2017, oversaw major departmental expansions, including the addition of four new fire stations and over 100 new positions. Under his leadership, the Henderson Fire Department achieved an ISO Class 1 rating, placing it in the top 0.5% of fire departments nationwide. The department also received accreditation from the CFAI and CAAS.
White began his fire service career with the Albuquerque Fire Department in 1989, eventually advancing to roles such as firefighter and paramedic, engineer, and lieutenant. He joined the Henderson Fire Department in 1999 and progressed to fire chief in 2017.
“I am extremely humbled and honored to be selected as the next fire chief for the city of Celina,” said 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.”
The Celina Fire Department, which currently holds an ISO Class 3 rating and was awarded a Best Practices Designation by the Texas Fire Chiefs’ Association in July 2024, is positioned for continued growth under White’s leadership. The department has recently opened Fire Station #3 and is in the design phase for Fire Station #4, part of a larger public safety campus master plan near the Celina Police Headquarters.
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