Chief Stanton began his career in 1986 as a volunteer firefighter for the Pilot Rock Fire District. In 1995 he was hired as a firefighter/paramedic with Hermiston Fire. Scott’s Education includes two AAS degrees and a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Service Administration. He is also certified as an Executive Fire Officer from the National Fire Academy.

Chief Stanton is a member of the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce, Hermiston Rotary Club, Director for the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, and served six years on the Board of Directors for the Department of Public Safety, Standards and Training. Scott is also a member of a Federal type 2 incident management team, NW Team #6.

Scott Also serves on several regional committees and advisory boards for Blue Mountain Community College, Columbia Basin Community College, Safe Communities, Healthy Comminutes Coalition and Area 9 Fire Defense Board.

Duties include: Planning, District budgeting and finance, fostering and building relationships with the public and other agencies and overall management of the Fire District. Beginning in July of 2014 Hermiston Fire and Stanfield Fire entered into an administrative merger that also placed Scott as the Chief of Stanfield Fire District. In 2016 by a vote of the people Hermiston and Stanfield fire Districts became the new Umatilla County Fire District # 1.

Scott believes there are three essential traits for good leadership: Be transparent in all you do, take ownership in all you do, and lastly say what you mean. A great leader has the ability to develop people into leaders themselves and have a desire to employ people with greater knowledge, skills and abilities than they themselves possess.