Cesilio “Cess” Mercado ’02, was appointed deputy fire chief of the UC Davis Fire Department effective Jan. 5, a position he has held in an acting and interim capacity since November.

Mercado first joined the fire department as a student firefighter in 1999. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science in 2002, he became a firefighter and has since served in all the department’s operational roles. Mercado was promoted to engineer in 2005 and captain in 2014.

“Throughout his career, Cess has consistently exemplified the core values of our department: service, integrity, leadership and a commitment to our community,” Chief Nate Hartinger said in an email announcing the appointment.

A member of the U.S. Army Reserve from 1997 to 2008, Mercado served as a medic with the 352nd Combat Support Hospital in Oakland, California, and then as an instructor with the 104th Training Division at Camp Parks, California.

He was deployed overseas as a senior medic as part of the 1st Provisional Motorized Infantry Company with the Multi-National Security Transition Command in Iraq from January 2007 to June 2008. Mercado was awarded the U.S. Army Defense Meritorious Service Medal while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008.