Community invited to show appreciation for Fire Chief Hughes

Published on April 18, 2025

White Zia symbol over a red circle, set against a white and blue background. Text reads: 'Thank You Chief Hughes – 14 Years of Service. Community Appreciation Event

Los Alamos County officials invite the public to a Community Appreciation event honoring Fire Chief Troy Hughes on Friday, April 25, from noon to 2 p.m. at Fuller Lodge, 2132 Central Ave.,his final day with the Los Alamos Fire Department (LAFD).The event will celebrate Chief Hughes’ 14 years of dedicated service to the community before he relocates to South Dakota to begin his new position as Fire Chief for the Brookings Fire Department.

Hughes was appointed to lead the LAFD in October 2011, bringing 26 years of firefighter, leadership and education experience to the role. He remained deeply committed to public safety, community engagement, and professional development throughout his tenure. Under his leadership, the department provided critical support and protection during several emergencies, including the Cerro Pelado fire that threatened the community and the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the spring of 2022.

Hughes is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard Kennedy School of Government. In 2017, he completed the Center for Homeland Defense and Security master’s program at the Naval Postgraduate School. He is among fewer than 1,200 fire service professionals in the United States to hold the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Commission on Professional Credentialing.

Active in the community, Hughes has served on several local boards and organizations, some of which are the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation, United Way of Northern New Mexico, Los Alamos Rotary Club, and the Los Alamos Committee for Higher Education. He is a graduate of the Leadership Los Alamos program and a lifetime alumni member of Leadership New Mexico.

County Manager Anne Laurent extends her appreciation to Chief Hughes for his service and leadership and invites all residents to attend this community event to thank him and wish him and his wife Jodi well.