Field narrows to eight for City’s next Fire Chief

For immediate release
Oct. 3, 2008

The City of Austin has selected eight veteran fire officials from departments throughout the country as candidates to head Austin’s 1,100-member department.

"The Austin Fire Department has proven itself as one of the leading departments in the nation," City Manager Marc Ott said. "These candidates know that they will be expected to uphold its traditions of fire safety effectiveness and community responsiveness."

The eight finalists are:

• Randy Bruegman, Fire Chief, Fresno, Calif.
• Jimmie R. Bryant, Fire Chief, Monroe, La., Fire Department.
• Niles Ford, Fire Chief, Lincoln, Neb., Fire and Rescue.
• Richard Gracia, Deputy Fire Chief of Support Services, Las Vegas, Nev., Fire and Rescue.
• Noel Horan, Assistant Fire Chief/Executive Officer, San Antonio Fire Department.
• Rhoda Mae Kerr, Fire Chief, Little Rock, Ark., Fire Department.
• Raul Reyes, Fire Chief, Greenville, Texas, Fire and Rescue.
• Michael Pruitt, Fire Chief, Longview, Texas, Fire Department.

Candidates will be interviewed next week by executive management as well as community members. The candidates will visit various fire facilities and will attend focus group meetings with fire employee association members, AFD management and City department director representatives. The candidates will also undergo a technical assessment with fire chiefs from other cities.

In upcoming weeks, the field will be further narrowed and City officials will visit the cities in which they have worked. The final steps will be to bring back the finalists for meetings with the City Council and the community and interviews with City Manager Ott.

The Fire Chief position involves the appointment by the City Manager and confirmation by the City Council.

Acting Fire Chief Jim Evans did not apply for the job and will resume duties as an Assistant Chief when the new chief is hired. He has supervised the department since May after the resignation of J.J. Adame.

The nationwide search was facilitated by consultant Arcus Public.