Davenport Fire Chief Mike Carlsten has announced his intention to retire from his position with the City of Davenport after 32 years of service.
Mr. Carlsten has led the Davenport Fire Department as chief since 2018, but his commitment to public service began when he first joined the department in 1993, the city said in a news release.
He was assigned to Central Station for the majority of his career, first as firefighter, and then rose through the ranks to engineer, lieutenant, captain, district chief, and most recently, fire chief.
The chief plans to remain with the city until at least July 1 to ensure a smooth transition process. A formal search for the next Davenport fire chief will begin immediately, according to the release.
Mr. Carlsten has been recognized for his professionalism many times throughout his career. He received the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) in 2017 and 2020. He was also named the American Legion Firefighter of the Year in 2003.
He earned his master’s in organizational leadership from St. Ambrose University in 2015 and is a certified public manager.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Davenport,” Mr. Carlsten said in the release. “My fondest memories are of the dedicated men and women I’ve served with and the camaraderie we shared.”
The Davenport Fire Department takes pride in being one of only 311 accredited agencies through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and the CPSE.The department’s current Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating is a Class 2/2X, putting DFD in the top 5% of departments nationwide.
The city said these continued accomplishments under Chief Carlsten’s leadership demonstrate the commitment to providing the highest quality of service to the Davenport community. He recently participated in MercyOne Genesis’ observance of the 75th Anniversary Memorial Service for the St. Elizabeth Hospital fire.
“I want to thank Chief Carlsten for his years of exceptional service to the people of Davenport,” Davenport City Administrator Doug Maxeiner said. “We wish him the best of luck in his next chapter.”
