City of Brookings Hires New Fire Chief

BROOKINGS, SD – The City of Brookings has hired Troy Hughes as the new Brookings Fire Department chief. Hughes will bring 40 years of fire service experience with him to fill the boots of Pete Bolzer, who will retire after serving 45-plus years in emergency services.

Hughes is currently the fire chief in Los Alamos, N.M., where he has served since 2011. He began his career with the Grand Island Fire Department in Nebraska, where he spent nearly 27 years serving in all ranks, including three as chief and 10 years as training chief.

“During my years as training chief, I spent significant time getting to know the South Dakota Fire Service, teaching at five different South Dakota State Fire Schools,” Hughes said. “In fact, Chief Bolzer and I were both instructors at the Aberdeen State Fire School.”

Hughes is scheduled to start his new position in May. Bolzer will continue as chief on a part-time basis until then, when he will wrap up nearly 26 years with the City of Brookings.

“We’re excited to have Troy join our team,” said City Manager Paul Briseno. “His nationally recognized fire service experience, extensive training background, educational achievements, and leadership skills make him an outstanding fit as our next fire chief. Many of our volunteer firefighters participated in the interview process, and Troy was also their choice to guide the department forward.”

Briseno said he appreciates Bolzer’s willingness to delay his retirement from year’s end to spring. “I appreciate Pete’s willingness to continue as chief until Troy is able to join us. It’s an example of Pete’s service-oriented leadership and dedication to our community,” he said.

Hughes was selected as the new chief following a nationwide recruitment process.

“I am honored to accept the position of fire chief for the City of Brookings,” Hughes said. “I am committed to ensuring the community’s safety and supporting the courageous firefighters of the Brookings Fire Department.”

In his current role with the Los Alamos Fire Department, Hughes oversees an ISO 1 Internationally Accredited Fire Department that consists of 176 employees who serve Los Alamos County and Los Alamos National Nuclear Laboratory through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration.

Hughes said Brookings’ hybrid Fire Department – a combination of paid career staff and volunteers – attracted him. The department has four full-time staff, including the chief; one part-time employee; and about 45 trained volunteer members. The Fire Department serves the City of Brookings, 186 square miles in Brookings County and 27 square miles in Moody County.

“I enjoyed teaching classes for volunteer firefighters and have an affinity for them,” Hughes said. “The Brookings Fire Department’s volunteers and staff are highly trained and committed to quality fire service. I look forward to partnering with them in their quest for continuous improvement.”

Hughes and his wife, Jodi, have two adult children and six grandchildren. Jodi is an elementary teacher who currently works as a reading interventionist and is hoping to contribute as an educator in Brookings.

“Jodi and I are excited to make Brookings our new home,” Hughes said. “We are impressed with all the community has to offer.”

Briseno said the first few months of Hughes’ employment will be focused on establishing relationships and understanding the city organization, Fire Department and the community.

More about Hughes
Hughes began his career with Grand Island Fire Department in Nebraska, where he spent nearly 27 years serving in all ranks: seven as a firefighter EMT/B, six as a captain, 10 as the training division chief, and three as the fire chief. He became the fire chief in Los Alamos, N.M., in 2011 and has served there for the last 13 years. The Los Alamos Fire Department is an ISO 1 Internationally Accredited Fire Department that consists of 176 employees who serve Los Alamos County and Los Alamos National Nuclear Laboratory through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration.

Hughes holds a variety of educational degrees: associate of applied science (AAS) in fire protection technology from Southeast Community College, bachelor of arts in public administration from Doane University, master of arts in management from Doane University, and master of arts in security studies from the Center for Homeland Security and Defense at the Naval Postgraduate School. He also completed the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and is designated as a Chief Fire Officer by the Commission on Professional Credentialing. Hughes also completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at the Harvard Kennedy School.

During his 10 years as the Grand Island Fire Training Chief, Hughes was also a part-time instructor for the Nebraska State Fire Marshal. This provided him the opportunity to teach classes across Nebraska to primarily all volunteer departments on weeknights and weekends when he was not working for Grand Island Fire. Hughes was given the Willian A. Beherns Award as the 2001 Nebraska Instructor of the Year by the Nebraska Society of Fire Service Instructors for his efforts.