Webster City City Councilman Brian Miller speaks with new Webster City Fire Chief Charles Stansfield Monday evening during the Webster City City Council meeting. Stansfield is replacing former chief John Conyn, who resigned from the position last summer.

New Webster City Fire Chief Charles T. Stansfield was welcomed by the council at Monday evening’s city council meeting.

“I’d just like to say thank you for the opportunity to come to Webster City,” said Stansfield. “I am definitely excited to be here and given the opportunity to meet a lot of the different individuals on the department and the department heads today.”

Stansfield is coming to Webster City from Derby, Kansas and has been serving as a Lieutenant on the Derby Fire Department since 2005.

“It’s been great. There’s a lot to catch up on within a short amount of time, but it looks like we have a great group of people. I’m very excited to be here and to get to serve the community,” said Stansfield.

Stansfield officially began his duties in Webster City on Monday.

Prior to the Derby Fire Department, Stansfield served as a firefighter and relief driver for five years with the Hutchinson Fire Department in Hutchinson, Kansas. Stansfield has also served as an adjunct instructor, teaching courses as part of the fire science programs at Hutchinson Community College and Butler Community College.

Stansfield has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from Mid America Nazarene University and an Associates of Applied Science in Fire Science from Butler County Community College. He is currently a participant in the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. This program enhances participants’ knowledge, critical thinking and research skills, and leadership capability.

“I believe that Stansfield’s background, experience, and servant-leadership philosophy will be a great addition to the community,” said Ortiz-Hernandez in a memo to the mayor and council.

The position became vacant six months ago when then-Fire Chief John Conyn resigned to take a job in Spencer.