Fire department veteran chosen as new chief
Community services director also hired
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.
Kyra Ochoa, who has managed the health care assistance program of Santa Fe County since 2014, will take over for Chris Sanchez, the interim department director who left for a job with the Santa Fe County Assessor’s Office.
Ochoa, 49, has a master’s degree in public health from New Mexico State University. The community services department oversees the city’s library division, senior services and youth and family services. The department also grants more than $2 million annually to community groups.
Babcock will receive $110,000 in annual salary. Ochoa will be paid $108,000.
The two hires round out the new senior staff team assembled under Webber, who was elected in March. There remains one vacancy
in the senior ranks, in the asset development department, though it is not yet clear whether the Webber administration plans to fill the position or fold it into the land-use department.
The former asset development director, Matt O’Reilly, resigned late last month. A city spokesman at the time said the mayor and city manager were evaluating whether to retain the position as part of a broader reorganization that will include a new role for Renée Martínez, the deputy city manager.
The city noted in a news release that the city’s ranks of senior staff now include more women than men. Webber, in a statement, said that was a first in the history of Santa Fe city government.
“Both of these new leaders stand out for their backgrounds of dedication and commitment to the public, and we’re excited to see the full senior team continue to come together,” Webber added, referring to Babcock and Ochoa.
“We’re excited about the energy and the potential this new group has, their diversity and the balance they strike between experience and innovation,” Litzenberg said.