Les Stephens

Les Stephens has a strong background in fire services and emergency response. Les began their career with the City of Garland in 1991, progressing from firefighter and paramedic roles to ultimately becoming a Battalion Chief. During their time with the City of Garland, they were involved in various areas such as fire prevention, public education, fire suppression, advanced life support EMS, hazardous materials response and mitigation, code enforcement, and technical rescue. In 2009, Les joined the City of San Marcos as Fire Chief, where they successfully transformed an underperforming department into a thriving civic contributor. Les'saccomplishments included securing the department's first-ever Texas Department of State Health Services - First Responder Organization number, achieving buy-in for continuous improvement and securing budget and FTE authorizations.

Les Stephens has an Associate's Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Tarrant County College. Les also has a Bachelor's Degree in BAAS from Texas State University. Additionally, they have obtained several certifications including Certified Public Manager (CPM) from Texas State University, Fire Service Chief Executive Officer (FSCEO) from Texas A&M University System, and Instructor III from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. Les is also a Certified Fire Officer (CFO) from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and an Executive Fire Officer (EFO) from the U.S. Fire Administration. Les Stephens received their Certified Fire Executive (CFE) certification from the Texas Fire Chiefs Association and has also obtained certifications such as Fire Officer IV and Department Head Suppression from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. Les has an Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic Certification from UT Southwestern Medical Center and various NIMS certifications from FEMA.