Geneva Fire Chief To Retire After 10 Years, Successor Announced

GENEVA, IL — After 10 years at the helm of the Geneva Fire Department, Chief Mike Antenore announced Wednesday he would retire, effective Aug. 14.

As Antenore plans to step down on Aug. 14, the city announced Deputy Chief Matt Lohse, a 27-year firefighting veteran, as his successor.

Subscribe

Antenore joined the department 30 years ago, beginning his career as a paid-on-call firefighter in 1996 before serving as a part-time engineer and being appointed chief in 2016.

"I am both honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to serve the Geneva community for the past 30 years," Antenore said in a statement. "It has truly been a once-in-a-lifetime privilege to work alongside the men and women of the Geneva Fire Department. The members are dedicated professionals and are committed to serving our residents, businesses and visitors."

Antenore's tenure was marked by a commitment to firefighter safety and investments in new apparatus, equipment and facility maintenance. He championed training and professional development while fostering a culture of leadership through fairness, honesty and ethical treatment of others, the city said in a news release.

His leadership led to improved efficiency and enhanced customer service, officials said.

"Geneva is grateful to Chief Antenore for his tenure as Fire Chief and decades-long service as a firefighter," Mayor Kevin Burns said in a statement. "His leadership, passion and selfless contributions are immeasurable, and his legacy is defined by cultivating a fire department rooted in compassion and commitment to public service."

Also a strong advocate for education and training, Lohse was hired as a career firefighter in 1999, progressing through the ranks and becoming lieutenant in 2015 and deputy chief in 2023.

"Matt possesses a deep understanding of the operational structure of the Geneva Fire Department and fully supports and values maintaining that balance and integration," Antenore said. "Matt has consistently mentored and supported members throughout the organization, helping them establish and implement safety initiatives and develop organizational standards and processes. He will continue to provide progressive leadership for our accredited Fire Department while maintaining the highest level of service to the community."

Lohse will oversee the department of 21 full-time firefighters and paramedics, eight contractors and more than 35 paid-on-call firefighters. His ascension received unanimous support from the City Council.

"The City Council's unanimous support of appointing Deputy Chief Lohse as Geneva's next Fire Chief is evidence of his professionalism, team building and trust he has built throughout the Fire Department and throughout the City," Burns said. "I look forward to working alongside Deputy Chief Lohse and building upon the foundation of success he helped develop."

Lohse said he is committed to providing steady and transparent leadership that supports the department's personnel, aligns with the city's strategic goals and ensures the department continues to deliver service with professionalism and accountability.

"Having served this department and community for more than two decades, I understand both the responsibility and privilege that come with this role," Lohse said. "It is truly an honor to continue leading the men and women of our organization. ... I look forward to working collaboratively with our City leadership and our community partners to responsibly guide the department forward while maintaining the trust our residents place in us each and every day."

Lohse received his bachelor's degree in fire administration in 2023 and his master's in fire administration in 2025 from Columbia Southern University. He and his wife, along with their two children, have lived in Batavia for 15 years.