A member of the fire service since 1986, Chief Hagen joined the Bellevue Fire Department in May of 2018 after an extensive nationwide search.
Chief Hagen began his career as a firefighter in Missoula, Montana. Shortly thereafter he joined the ranks of the Seattle Fire Department where he rose through the ranks to Assistant Chief of their Operations Division responsible for supervising approximately 1,000 firefighters. During his thirty-year career as a first responder he has been assigned to various divisions and has extensive experience with Operations, Fire Prevention, Training, and Administration.
Chief Hagen is a 2002 graduate of the University of Montana where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communications and Business Management. In March of 2006 he earned a Master of Arts degree in Homeland Security and Defense from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. In addition, in 2007 he spent a year in Washington, D.C. representing the Center for Homeland Defense and Security as a Senior Research Fellow on behalf of state and local first responders. Jay supported the federal grants process at FEMA’s Office of Grants and Training. He has also previously served as Chair of the Interagency Board.
Chief Hagen is civic minded and has been actively involved with Code4NW First Responders Suicide Prevention Hotline, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Firefighter Stair climb, the Muscular Dystrophy Association “Fill the Boot” Campaign, and the Medic One Foundation.
Jay and his wife Theresa live in Newcastle. They enjoy entertaining, travel, and spending time with their two adult daughters.