The Search for Aurora's Next Fire Chief
Consultation has concluded
Following the retirement of Aurora Fire Rescue Chief Fernando Gray, the city began the process of recruiting and selecting its next fire chief, with input from the public at each stage along the way:
- Hired CPS HR Consulting to assist with the recruitment efforts.
- Sought community input through surveys on the experiences and qualifications needed for Aurora's next Fire Chief.
- Established a community Search Review Committee to review a confidential list of applicants and identify nine semi-finalists.
- Narrowed the applicant pool to four finalists through interviews with city management.
- Held a two-day, in-person selection process with taped community interviews, a public meet-and-greet event, and interviews with City Council, city management, Aurora Fire Rescue personnel, and community members.
On Jan. 23, City Manager Jim Twombly selected Alec Oughton as the next Aurora Fire Chief, pending confirmation by City Council at its Jan. 30 meeting. Read the full announcement.
Watch the taped interview with Alec Oughton.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the selection process.
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City Manager selects Alec Oughton as Fire Chief
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Following a two-day, in-person finalist interview process with community members, City Council members and city management in early January, Aurora City Manager Jim Twombly has selected Alec Oughton, Fire Chief of the Henrico, County, Va., Division of Fire, as Aurora’s next fire chief pending City Council’s confirmation at its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 30.“Chief Oughton brings a wealth of experience from a similarly sized department, and a similarly sized and diverse portion of the Greater Richmond, Va., area,” Twombly said. “I found his engagement with Aurora community members, council members and me to be authentic and genuine, and I believe he will garner the support of our dedicated fire personnel and the Aurora community. He is committed to our ongoing public safety changes and will add a new perspective to our work.”
“I am humbled to have been selected to serve the city of Aurora as your fire chief. The pool of candidates was remarkable, and each one brought significant experience, great ideas, and their heart for service to the process,” Oughton said. “I fell in love with this area in 2007, when riding through it as part of a pediatric cancer research fundraiser. It is a beautiful area with amazing people, and I’ve felt a strong pull toward this community since. I truly look forward to connecting with, and caring for, Aurora’s residents and Aurora’s firefighters.”
If confirmed by City Council, Chief Oughton is scheduled to start at Aurora Fire Rescue on Monday, March 13, pending the finalization of an employment agreement. More information about his background and vision is available in this recent community interview with Oughton.
Oughton was one of four finalists for the position. The others were Richard Davis, Assistant Chief of the Austin, Texas, Fire Department; Allen Robnett, Interim Fire Chief of Aurora Fire Rescue; and Froilan “Pepper” Valdez, Fire Chief of the Billings, Mont., Fire Department.
“Each of the finalists were well-qualified and interviewed well. I wish I could hire all of them,” Twombly said. “I am appreciative of Interim Chief Robnett’s many years of service to Aurora Fire Rescue, and I look forward to his continued leadership at the department. I also want to personally thank the members of the community that were directly involved in the selection process for their valuable insight and continued support.”
The city hired CPS HR Consulting, a firm specializing in the recruitment and selection of executive-level professionals in city, county, state, special district, and non-profit agencies, to conduct the search with a focus on recruiting a diverse pool of applicants.
Thirty-six (36) individuals applied for the position. The city management team and CPS HR provided a confidential list of the applicants to a diverse, well-established, broad cross-section of nine community leaders, whose information is detailed on EngageAurora.org/FireChiefSearch, for review. The panel subsequently identified nine semi-finalists.
A city management panel, comprised of Twombly, Deputy City Managers Jason Batchelor, Laura Perry and Roberto Venegas, Fleet Manager Ron Forrest of Aurora Public Works, and Litigation Manager Isabelle Evans of the Aurora City Attorney’s Office, conducted semi-finalist interviews to narrow the pool of candidates to the four named finalists.
Community members were invited to submit questions to the finalists and about the process at EngageAurora.org/FireChiefSearch. Two community leaders used those questions to conduct taped, one-on-one interviews with each finalist which were subsequently posted publicly. The city welcomed community feedback about the interviews and the in-person community meet-and-greet that took place.
Aurora’s city charter requires the city manager to hire a fire chief and receive approval from the majority of the Aurora City Council.
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Fire Chief Finalists
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Richard Davis
Assistant Fire Chief - Austin, Texas, Fire DepartmentRichard Davis has been an assistant fire chief of the Austin, Texas, Fire Department since 2009. He first began working at the department in 1993. He serves in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and was on active duty with the U.S. Air Force from 1983 to 1991. He has a master’s degree in executive fire service leadership and a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management.
Alec Oughton
Fire Chief - Henrico County, VirginiaAlec Oughton has been the fire chief of the Henrico County, Va., Division of Fire since 2019. He previously served as a deputy chief and battalion chief at the division. He began working at the division in 1999 after serving as a firefighter and paramedic at Spotsylvania County, Va., Fire and Rescue for three years. He also served as a field medical technician for the U.S. Naval Reserve. Mr. Oughton has a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Allen Robnett
Interim Fire Chief - Aurora Fire RescueAllen Robnett is the interim chief of Aurora Fire Rescue. He most recently served as a deputy chief overseeing professional development and personnel support. He began working for Aurora Fire Rescue in 1989 as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. He also served as a fire investigator, lieutenant and training officer, captain, battalion chief and commander in the chief’s office. He has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management.
Froilan "Pepper" Valdez
Fire Chief - Billings, Montana, Fire DepartmentFroilan “Pepper” Valdez is the chief of the Billings, Mont., Fire Department where he previously worked as a senior assistant fire chief and battalion chief. He first began working at Billings Fire 24 years ago. He previously served as a paramedic and emergency medical technician for American Medical Response. He has a master’s degree in organizational and executive leadership and a bachelor’s degree in business administration.