Assistant Chief, Manuel Almaguer, has been a Denver Firefighter for 26 years. Chief Almaguer has served in many roles in the Denver Fire Department. This includes Division Chief of Fire Prevention, and Assistant Chief in both Training and Operations. Hazardous Materials Captain and Lieutenant in Administration.
He is a national champion of mental health and resiliency, planning and implementing mental health training and programs for the fire service for the past 15 years. He has spoken nationally at The White House, Pentagon and NATCON on Suicide Prevention for First Responders and Men’s Mental Health.

In 2014, he was part of the core team of firefighters and mental health professionals that rolled out a comprehensive training curriculum on suicide prevention and mental health crisis intervention for the Denver Fire Department. This training program became a national model for numerous organizations and industries, including the construction field. He was a driving force in making suicide prevention training and mental wellness as part of the recruit training academy and officer development certification.

He has participated in numerous podcasts and webinars centered on mental health awareness and addressing the mental health stigma facing firefighters of color. He worked for 11 years in the psychiatric institutional setting, and inpatient treatment centers as a Psychiatric Registered Nurse.