Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue

Congratulations to Fire Chief James Wenzel on an Outstanding Achievement!

Rio Rancho Fire Rescue is proud to recognize our Fire Chief for successfully completing the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program through the National Fire Academy!

The EFO Program is a nationally recognized professional development program focused on strengthening executive leadership, strategic decision-making, and organizational effectiveness within the fire and emergency services.

This achievement reflects our Chief’s dedication to continuous professional growth, excellence in leadership, and commitment to advancing the fire service.

Strong leadership builds strong departments, and we are proud to have a Chief who continues to invest in the future of our organization and the community we serve.

Please join us in congratulating our Fire Chief on this well-deserved accomplishment!

Rio Rancho Fire Rescue is proud to recognize Battalion Chief Jessica Duron-Martinez for completing the National Fire Academy’s prestigious Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program.
Chief Duron-Martinez becomes the 46th EFO graduate from New Mexico, the second female EFO graduate in the state, the fifth EFO graduate from Rio Rancho Fire Rescue, and the first female EFO graduate in department history.

Admission into the two-year Executive Fire Officer Program is highly competitive. For Chief Duron-Martinez’s cohort, 500 fire service leaders from across the nation applied, with only 150 selected to participate in the program.

The EFO Program is the National Fire Academy’s premier executive leadership development program, designed to prepare fire and EMS leaders to address complex organizational, leadership, and community challenges.

As part of the program, Chief Duron-Martinez completed her capstone research paper, “Beyond Promotion: Mentorship and Leadership Readiness in the Fire Service.” Her research examined mentorship, leadership preparedness, and the development of future leaders within the fire service, emphasizing the importance of preparing members not simply for promotion, but for leadership.

Chief Duron-Martinez also earned a Master of Public Administration in Organizational Leadership and graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

Her continued work focuses on mentorship, leadership development, and investing in the next generation of fire service leaders through a philosophy of Learn & Return: Train. Apply. Multiply.

Congratulations, Chief Duron-Martinez, on this significant professional achievement and for continuing to represent Rio Rancho Fire Rescue and the New Mexico fire service with dedication.

First Photo:
Paul Matheis, U.S. Fire Administrator

Second & Third Photo:
Group 7 of EFO Cohort Graduation