Chief Leipfert has been providing Fire and Emergency Services for nearly 40 years with over half of those as a Municipal Fire Chief. Rich served as Firefighter, Fire Captain and Assistant Fire Chief with the United States Air Force from 1982 to 1994. In 1995 he became the Fire Chief of Somerton Arizona. He transitioned to Ketchikan as the Fire Chief in November of 1998. From 2004 through 2008 he served as the Public Safety Director for the City of Ketchikan where he supervised both Fire and Police Departments. During his ten years in Alaska he served as a Governor appointed member of the Alaska Fire Standards Council for 8 years. Chief Leipfert started serving the citizens of McMinnville as the Fire Chief in July of 2008. He recently finished 6 years as the Governor appointed OFCA representative on the DPSST Telecommunications Policy Committee. As of July 2019 he also serves as Fire Chief for Amity Fire District. Chief Leipfert has an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science, a Bachelors Degree in Management and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy, Executive Fire Officer Program. Rich has 3 daughters, 4 grandchildren and lives in McMinnville with his wife Amanda. In his spare time he enjoys outdoor activities including camping, hunting, fishing, and riding motorcycles.
