Sugar Land, TX – Fire Chief Doug Boeker recently hired Mark Campise to serve as assistant fire chief for emergency services.
Campise joined Sugar Land on Oct. 11 and oversees response and training for fire suppression and emergency medical services. He has been tasked with expanding professional development, providing mentorship, developing future leaders and planning for leadership succession. He replaced Assistant Chief Javier Crespo who recently retired.
He most recently served as assistant chief of administration for the Pearland Fire Department, where his focus was rebuilding a training division; designing, constructing and opening new fire stations; and managing budget and logistics. He led a department that responds to more than 10,000 calls for service per year and serves a population of more than 130,000.
Campise began his career as a volunteer firefighter with the La Porte Fire Department in 1998. After graduating from Sam Houston State University in 2002, he worked as a teacher before joining PFD as a fire lieutenant in 2007. He was later promoted to battalion chief and worked as a shift commander before his promotion to assistant chief in 2019.
During his 15-year career with PFD, Campise was responsible for all hazards response, budget management, leadership development, crew performance and more. He has also served as an adjunct instructor at San Jacinto College, College of the Mainland and Wharton County Junior College.
“I am excited to add Chief Campise to our team,” said Boeker. “He has a real passion for public service. This combined with his long track record of demonstrated leadership; ability to mentor and develop first-responders; and create a culture of high performance, innovation and teamwork will be a real asset to our Sugar Land family.”
Campise is currently attending the National Fire Academy as a student in the Executive Fire Officer Program and has started coursework towards a master’s degree at Sam Houston State University.
He and his wife, Merissa, have three young boys in junior high school. They enjoy camping, duck hunting and spending time outdoors in the Texas hill country. 