Jersey Village Fire Chief Kathy Hutchens has been named fire chief for the City of Rosenberg – the first woman ever to hold that post.
Hutchens, who spent 26 years with the Jersey Village department, assumes the duties of Rick Todish, who announced in December that he intended to retire. His last day was Wednesday.
Rosenberg Mayor Joe Gurecky said the city conducted a thorough search for Todish’s replacement, and was fortunate to find Hutchens.
“She has been a professional firefighter for over 20 years,” Gurecky said. “This lady has a very impressive resume. We did look internally, and we do have some promising young men, but they’re not quite there yet. There’s a management side of firefighting that is quite technical.”
At Jersey Village, Hutchens served to years as a volunteer, was a captain for two years, and assistant fire chief for seven. She became Jersey Village’s assistant fire marshal in 1982 and fire marshal a year later. In 1992, she was named the city’s fire chief/fire marshal.
In addition to her extensive experience in firefighting, Hutchens is a certified Texas law enforcement officer through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education, and holds designations for advanced fire inspector, advanced investigator, advanced structural firefighter and intermediate fire instructor, among others.
She’s also a certified emergency medical technician and a licensed paramedic, and serves as chair on the Curriculum Advisory Board for the Fire Science Program at Cy-Fair College.
“The city is excited about Chief Hutchens joining our team,” said Rosenberg City Manager, Jack Hamlett. “She is filling some pretty big shoes following in Chief Todish’s footsteps. He dedicated 29 years as a career firefighter to the City of Rosenberg and was an asset to the department and the city. We all wish him well in whatever he does.”
However, Hamlett added, “Chief Hutchens comes to us with a wealth of experience that is certain to serve the department and the city well. The city’s priorities continue to be to provide the highest level of services to the residents of Rosenberg, and Chief Hutchens brings that same commitment to the job.”
“I am very fortunate to be part of a fire department that is diligently seeking to serve the needs of its citizens,” Hutchens said. “In my short time here, I have found the staff to be well-trained, personable, and dedicated. I am looking forward to becoming a part of this community myself as we collectively strive to grow and continue to meet the needs of the community.”
Hutchens’ family also has a fire-fighting background. She said her husband just retired from the Houston Fire Department in June, and both her children had been fire fighters in the past. One is now an emergency room physician.
Hutchens is a member of an elite group; according to the International Association of Fire Chiefs, there are only about 65 woman fire chiefs in the United States.
At Rosenberg, she heads a department with 45 firefighters.
Hutchens, who spent 26 years with the Jersey Village department, assumes the duties of Rick Todish, who announced in December that he intended to retire. His last day was Wednesday.
Rosenberg Mayor Joe Gurecky said the city conducted a thorough search for Todish’s replacement, and was fortunate to find Hutchens.
“She has been a professional firefighter for over 20 years,” Gurecky said. “This lady has a very impressive resume. We did look internally, and we do have some promising young men, but they’re not quite there yet. There’s a management side of firefighting that is quite technical.”
