Command Staff
Chief Russ Adams
Russ has worked in the Fire and EMS field for over 35 years. He received his EMT license in 1983 and began working for a private ambulance service and volunteering for Wentzville Fire Protection District. Russ then obtained his Paramedic license in 1984 and began teaching for the Saint Louis Community College as an EMT and Paramedic Instructor. In 1987 Russ started his paid fire service career for the Robertson Fire Protection District. In 1990 Russ started at Chesterfield/ Monarch Fire Protection District, as a Firefighter/Paramedic.
Russ has held positions as a Personal Class Coordinator for the Veterans Affairs, Paramedic in DePaul E.R., Saint Louis Children’s Hospital Emergency Room and Transport team and as a paramedic instructor for over seven years for Respond Right EMS Academy and two years at Lindenwood University. Russ holds the following certifications: Instructor in CPR, ACLS, PALS, PHTLS, and EMS/FIRE INSTRUCTOR. Russ has completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Service management and is working on his Masters Degree in Emergency Services Management. While at Monarch Russ has been promoted to Engineer, Captain, Shift Training Captain, C Shift Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief - Training Officer and Fire Chief. Russ is also part of the USAR-3 Search and Rescue team. Russ, his wife and three children reside in Dardenne Prairie MO.
Assistant Chief Les Crews
Les Crews started his career in 1978 with the Glendale Fire Department. In 1979 he accepted the position of firefighter with the Monarch Fire Protection District. He was promoted to Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief of Special Operations, and in 2018 Assistant Chief. Chief Crews is an active member with Missouri Task Force One, a FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Team, and serves in the capacity of a Task Force Leader. Chief Crews also serves as a USAR Specialist on a FEMA Incident Support Team.
During his career he has responded to several national disasters: The 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, 2005 Hurricane Katrina, 2011 Joplin tornado and the 2014 Mudslide in Oso Washington. Chief Crews holds an Emergency Medical Technician license, and has an Associate’s Degree in Fire Protection Technology.
Deputy Chief - Training Tommy Beauchamp
Deputy Chief Tommy Beauchamp’s career started as a young boy following his dad around the Chesterfield Fire Protection District over 40 years ago; but his own professional career started in 1992 in the United States Army as a combat medic. He has been a member of Monarch Fire District since 1997. The last 24 years Tommy has worked his way through the ranks of Engineer, Captain, Assistant Shift Training Officer, C-Shift Battalion Chief, and is now assigned as the Deputy Chief - Training fficer. He holds a degree in Paramedic Technology and is continuing his education by enrolling in classes or studies to advance his value to the community of the Monarch Fire Protection District.
BC Beauchamp has worked in emergency services in many different facets over his career. He is currently a Captain with the Clarksville Volunteer Fire Department and an Assistant Instructor with the St. Louis County Fire Academy. He has spent time in the United States Army, St. Charles County Ambulance District and Pike County Memorial Hospital Emergency Services.
Tommy currently holds many certificates in fire officer leadership, fire service instructing, Blue Card, as well as many other fire and emergency technical operation skills. He has been a member of the St. Louis Region Strike Team 3 since the beginning.
In his spare time, he enjoys spending time on the family farm raising beef cattle, horses, and chickens. Tommy enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters when not at work.
Deputy Chief - Operations Bill Long
Bill Long started his career with the Fire District on August 15, 1988. He was promoted to Engineer in 1999, Captain in July 2000, Battalion Chief in April 2012 and Deputy Chief in February 2019.. He is a Missouri Division of Fire Safety Certified Fire Officer II and Instructor II. He has an Associate’s Degree in Fire Protection Technology.
Deputy Chief Long and his wife reside in West County.
Fire Marshal / PIO Jim McKay
Jim McKay began his career with the Monarch Fire Protection District in January 2000. Prior to that, he was employed by St. Louis County and the City of Bridgeton as a Public Works Inspector. Jim was promoted to Fire Marshal on May 1, 2021. Chief McKay is certified through the International Code Council as a Building Code Official, Building Inspector and Building Plan Reviewer. He holds certifications from the State of Missouri as a Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator and Fire Service Instructor. Jim has an Associate’s degree in Civil Engineering Technology.
A Shift Battalion Chief Ed Fassler
Ed Fassler began his career with the Monarch Fire Protection District in July 1996 as a Paramedic/Firefighter. Ed progressed through the ranks: Engineer, EMS Supervisor, and Company Officer. June 20, 2016 Captain Fassler was promoted to Battalion Chief.
BC Fassler has an Associate Degree in Fire Science, he is a licensed Paramedic, Strike Team Leader, and he is certified as a Hazardous Materials Technician. Chief Fassler is active in Officer and Instructor Development and he is the Fire District’s CCE911 (Dispatch) Representative.
BC Fassler has a family heritage in Emergency Services; his father is a retired Deputy Chief and he has two brothers currently serving. Ed, his wife, and their three children reside in West St. Louis County.
B Shift Battalion Chief Dave Schmitt
Dave Schmitt began his career with the Monarch Fire Protection District on Oct. 1, 1979. He worked his way through the ranks: Engineer in 1986, Captain in 1997, and Battalion Chief on August 7, 2014. Chief Schmitt is a State Certified Fire Department Incident Safety Officer, Fire Officer II, Fire Instructor I, and a licensed Emergency Medical Technician. He has an Associate’s Degree in Fire Protection Technology.
Battalion Chief Schmitt resides in St. Louis County with his wife Kathy.
C Shift Battalion Chief Brent Coleman
Battalion Chief Brent Coleman has served the Monarch Fire Protection District since May 2000, beginning his career with the District as a Firefighter-Paramedic, before being promoted to the rank of Captain in 2011, and then Battalion Chief in 2022. BC Coleman entered the field of emergency services in 1995, working as an EMT for MU Healthcare EMS in Columbia, MO. After graduating from paramedic school in 1997, he began working for the St. Louis Fire Department, Bureau of EMS, where he remained until accepting the position at Monarch. In addition, he has worked in private EMS, served as adjunct and primary faculty in various regional EMS educational programs, and has over ten years of in-hospital experience as a paramedic in the emergency departments of both Level I and II trauma centers.
BC Coleman holds an Associates Degree in Paramedic Technology from St. Louis Community College, a Bachelors Degree in Healthcare Administration from Lindenwood University, and holds Executive Certificates in Negotiation and Conflict Management from the University of Notre Dame.
In both his personal and professional life, BC Coleman has had the opportunity serve other organizations which place a high premium on leadership, including the Boy Scouts of America and the International Association of Fire Fighters as a District Vice-President for Eastern Missouri. These experiences have prompted a focus on the development strong future leaders in the fire service as a key means to ensure excellence in the delivery of emergency services well into the future.
BC Coleman resides in St. Charles County with his wife and children.
Chief Medical Officer Nicholas Smith
Nick started his career in EMS in 2003 following his graduation from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration-Marketing emphasis. After EMT school he began working for Abbott Ambulance and Lincoln County Ambulance District while attending paramedic school in 2005. Graduating in 2006, he began working for Christian Hospital EMS full-time before getting hired at the Monarch Fire Protection District in 2007. Since joining, Nick has held the position of Private, EMS Captain, Fire Captain, Relief Batallion Chief, and Shift Training Officer. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration-Emergency Services Management in 2018 and holds numerous instructor certifications that include: ACLS, PALS, BLS, PHTLS, MO EMS Instructor, Blue Card, MO State Fire Instructor II and Fire Officer III. Nick is a 2nd generation firefighter, his father Steven Smith, served for over 40 years where he retired as a Captain for the Monarch Fire Protection District in 2016. He is a proud husband to his wife Jessi and father of three children, Ethan, Harrison, and Emersyn.