A 28-year veteran of the Santa Fe Fire Department is the city’s new fire chief.
Paul Babcock, 46, who began his climb up the department ladder as a cadet in 1990, has been assistant fire chief of operations for four years. Before that, he served in various roles, including as an emergency medical technician, engineer, lieutenant and battalion chief.
Babcock, a graduate of Santa Fe High School, has been serving as interim fire chief since the former chief, Erik Litzenberg, was named city manager by Mayor Alan Webber earlier this summer.
Litzenberg, who according to the city charter is responsible for most personnel decisions, on Thursday also hired a community services director.