City of St. Joseph names new Fire Chief
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The St. Joseph Fire Department's new leader is coming from within its ranks.
Ivan Klippenstein has been named the department's new chief.
Klippenstein joined the SJFD in January of 2002 and has served in several roles, including firefighter, first responder, confined space technician, driver and captain.
He has been a training officer with the department since October 2019.
Klippenstein began his career with the Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, Fire Company as a volunteer firefighter in 1989. He also worked as an EMT in the community.
He joined the Lewistown, Idaho, Rural Fire Service as a volunteer wildland firefighter in 1990 and has been a member of the Central DeKalb County Fire Protection District since 1998, serving as its chief from 2002 to 2005.
Klippenstein was a firefighter at Rosecrans Memorial Airport from 2001 to 2002 and taught firefighting, HAZMAT and first responder courses as an adjunct instructor at Hillyard Technical Center from 2003 to 2007.
"I've been involved in fire service since I was 17 in some form, and there's a lot of good coming in the St. Joseph Fire Department that I look forward to leading," said Klippenstein, in a press release from the City. "I want to create involvement and inspire people. I think many would like to participate, and they just need to be given the opportunity."
Klippenstein will lead a staff of about 130 in St. Joseph and was chosen from a pool of 20 applicants, which included three internal candidates.
St. Joseph City Manager, Mike Schumacher said Klippenstein's experience in training set him apart form other candidates.
"Ivan is the right person to move our fire department forward," Schumacher said in a press release. "We want to take care of our professional and hardworking firefighters by making sure they are equipped with training that prioritizes their safety and that of our citizens."
Klippenstein's appointment is effective Monday, May 19. His salary will be $140,000. He replaces Kenny Cordonnier, who retired on April 4, 2025.
