Press Release   ·   November 2, 2020

Governor Kate Brown Appoints Les Hallman as Interim Director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training

Hallman joins DPSST from his post as Assistant Fire Chief with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue

Oregon Governor Kate Brown has appointed Les Hallman, Assistant Fire Chief with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, as interim director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST), effective today. Hallman replaces Eriks Gabliks who is retiring after more than 30 years of state service. Hallman will serve as interim director while the recruitment and selection process for the next DPSST director continues. “I am very appreciative that Les has accepted the assignment to lead our state's public safety licensing and training agency while we continue the search for a permanent director," said Governor Brown. "We will benefit from his broad experience in public safety, incident management, and leadership at both the local and state level. "I would also like to thank Director Gabliks for his distinguished career in state service and for leading the agency over the last 10 years. I am grateful for his service and contributions to public safety in Oregon." As interim director of DPSST, Hallman will oversee the agency that certifies and licenses police officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, regulatory specialists (OLCC), telecommunicators (9-1-1), emergency medical dispatchers, criminal justice instructors, private security providers, private investigators, and polygraph examiners in the state. DPSST also works in consultation with public and private safety agencies around the state by providing basic, leadership, and specialized training at the 237-acre Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem and regionally throughout the state. “It is an incredible honor to be asked by Governor Brown to temporarily fill this role for an agency for which I have great respect," said Hallman. "I am looking forward to working with the DPSST staff and its many stakeholder groups, and to help prepare for the permanent director." Hallman has over 30 years of experience in emergency services, serving for 12 years as a fire chief in South Walton, Florida prior to becoming the Florida State Fire Marshal. Hallman accepted a position as Fire Chief for the City of Newberg in 2009 and was selected for his current position as Assistant Chief when Newberg merged with TVFR. He has been active within the Oregon fire service since he arrived in the state, serving as President of the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, as well as the chair of the Mobilization Plan Committee and Governor’s Fire Service Policy Council. He joined the State Fire Marshal Incident Management Team program in 2012 and was appointed as the Green Team’s Incident Commander prior to the 2015 season. He and his team oversaw firefighting operations last month in the Santiam Canyon. A photo of Hallman is available here.

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