Ryan Woodey was appointed to serve as Fire Chief by the Board of Commissioners on January 5th, 2026. Locally rooted, Chief Woodey grew up in Federal Way, where he attended Lake Dolloff Elementary, Kilo Junior High, and Thomas Jefferson High School. Committed to his community, he continues to live locally with his wife and three daughters.

Chief Woodey’s fire service career began in 2002 as a volunteer firefighter with Graham Fire & Rescue. For twenty years, he served as a career firefighter with Graham, advancing through the ranks from firefighter to battalion chief. In pursuit of a higher calling, Chief Woodey accepted a position as Deputy Fire Chief with the Kirkland Fire Department in 2023. He served with Kirkland Fire until his appointment as Fire Chief with South King Fire.

Over his career, Chief Woodey has gained valuable experience through direct involvement with special projects and programs. This includes fire station renovations and replacements, the development of policies and guidelines for a carcinogen-reduction program, and community outreach efforts designed to educate voters on critical funding levies. Woodey led a team of regional battalion chiefs, tasked with developing a tactical operations manual for a training consortium responsible for 800 uniformed firefighters. He has also served as a project liaison for important fire training center activities.

A student of leadership, Chief Woodey values personal development and continuing education. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Washington State University, a bachelor’s degree in fire administration from Columbia Southern University, and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Arizona State University.

Chief Woodey’s personal, professional, and educational experiences have shaped his values of fostering community connections, advocating for health and safety, and a strong dedication to service. Chief Woodey is committed to mentoring and coaching prospective firefighters and tenured officers. His leadership approach is to build cohesive teams through caring and accountability, while delivering on the mission to safeguard people, property, and the environment. In his own words, he is “honored and humbled” to serve as the Fire Chief of South King Fire.