49, Aliso Viejo ... Costa Mesa...

49, Aliso Viejo ... Costa Mesa fire chief ... Worked his way up

the ranks to the top job ... Spent a week in New York City with son,

Kevin, delivering $7,500 from Costa Mesa city employees following the

Sept. 11 terrorist attacks ... Has earned praise for bringing the

department closer together with others in the city ... Son is

training to be a firefighter, too ... Made notable appearance at the

city’s Fourth of July celebration dressed in a large straw hat,

sunglasses and T-shirt reading “land of the free, home of the brave,”

not to mention red, white and blue shorts ... Last year’s ranking: 60