The Vista Fire Protection District is governed by a 5-member board of directors who are elected by District Residents to serve 4 year terms.

John Ploetz - President (Division C)

John Ploetz has lived in the Buena Creek area of the District since 1983.  A graduate of Michigan State University, he is a landscape designer and nurseryman.  A volunteer hike leader for the San Diego Natural History Museum, he has a special interest in the ecology of the chaparral.  Married for 45 years, he is the father of two sons.

Jim Elliott - Vice President (At Large)

Jim Elliott has almost 40 years of local government experience first serving the City of Phoenix, AZ, and then the City of Carlsbad, CA.  In Carlsbad, he served as Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Director, and Finance Director, among other positions.  During his career Mr. Elliott has been heavily involved in organizational management and leadership, finance and budgeting, information technology, organizational change efforts, and system improvements.  Mr. Elliott also provided leadership on key city projects such as the Carlsbad Seawater Desalination Project where he served as Carlsbad’s team leader and chief negotiator from 2000 through 2010, and as the lead negotiator with key developers to develop a plan for financing the costs of growth.

Although Mr. Elliott has devoted his career to local government, he also brings an understanding of business to the Fire Protection District Board of Directors.  Mr. Elliott has an MBA from the University of California, Irvine, and an undergraduate degree in accounting from Arizona State University.  He also has 13 years experience in the management and leadership of a small Midwestern manufacturing business.    Mr. Elliott has lived in the North San Diego County area since 1974.

Read Miller - Director (Division A)

Director Miller has lived in the District since 1946, serving  as a Director of the Vista Fire Protection District since 2002.  A graduate of Vista High School, Pomona College, and George Washington University, he has played an active role in the community as president of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Optimist Club, and Board of Realtors. After service in the Coast Guard, he founded a local real estate firm and a flower farm in Gopher Canyon.

 Rob Fougner - Director (Division B)

Rob Fougner lives in the Elevado neighborhood and has served as a Director of the Vista Fire Protection District for over 18 years.  He also served as District President for four years.   He has been a Vista resident for 20 years.  Prior to moving to Vista he served as vice president in a California based network security company protecting large, high value communications.

 Jerry Hill  - Director (At Large )

Director Hill lives in the Kew Gardens area of the District.

Jerry brings over 40 years of Public Service experience to the District, currently serving as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Mission Viejo.

He returned to the Vista Fire Protection District Board of Directors in January 2025 after previously serving on the Board from 2010-2020 and serving as Board president 2016-2020.

He has been married to wonderful wife Heidi for 37 years and has two grown children and three grandchildren.