Meet the fire chief & staff
Chief Tom Brandhuber was appointed as the Fire Chief of Golder Ranch Fire District on March 31, 2023, bringing with him over 30 years of experience in fire and emergency medical services (EMS). He has been a dedicated member of the district since 2013 and has played a key role in its growth and success.
He is a passionate advocate for collaboration and currently serves as the President of the Arizona Ambulance Association, representing the district on numerous regional and state committees. His career in the fire service began in 1989, and Chief Brandhuber has made significant contributions to both the Golder Ranch Fire District and the wider EMS community. Beyond his work in fire services, Chief Brandhuber had a distinguished career with the United States Air Force Reserve from 1988 to 2021.
Throughout his military tenure, he rose from Fire Fighter to Fire Chief, ultimately serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commander, where he provided expert leadership and strategic oversight for fire and emergency operations. Since his appointment as Fire Chief, Golder Ranch Fire District has continued to benefit from Chief Brandhuber’s extensive knowledge, leadership, and commitment to excellence in all aspects of fire and EMS service delivery.
Leading With Integrity & Excellence
Chief Tom Brandhuber leads the Golder Ranch Fire District with integrity and excellence, inspiring each member of our team to serve their community with pride.
Meet Our Assistant chiefs
Chris Grissom
Chris Grissom is a fire service executive with more than 20 years of experience in operations, special operations, training, emergency medical services, and peer support. He has served with the Golder Ranch Fire District since 2005 and currently serves as Assistant Chief of EMS and Fire Response, providing executive leadership over Operations, Emergency Medical Services, and Training. Chief Grissom holds a Master’s degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Grand Canyon University.
Eric Perry
Eric Perry is a fire service executive with over 25 years of experience in operations, training, accreditation, and community risk reduction. He has served with the Golder Ranch Fire District since 2017 and currently serves as Assistant Chief of Community Risk Reduction for the Golder Ranch Fire District, providing executive leadership over fire prevention, fire investigations, community education, community engagement, and the finance department. Chief Perry holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Northern Arizona University, a Master’s degree in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University, and a Professional Certificate in Employee Relations and Investigations from Cornell University.
Grant Cesarek
Grant Cesarek is a fire service executive with more than 25 years of experience in emergency operations, EMS, health and safety, and organizational support services. He has served with the Golder Ranch Fire District since 2015 and currently serves as Assistant Chief of Support Services for the Golder Ranch Fire District, providing executive leadership over facilities, fleet, procurement, strategic communications, health and safety, and technology programs. Chief Cesarek holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Safety and Emergency Management from Grand Canyon University, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, and holds a Certificate from the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association Chief Executive Officer Program.