Command Staff

Fire Chief

Having grown up in Rio Rancho, Chief James Wenzel takes great pride in leading the men and women of the Rio Rancho Fire and  Rescue Department.

Chief Wenzel is credentialed as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence and is a graduate of the Fire Service Chief Executive Officer Program at Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).  

He holds a Master of Business Administration and is currently enrolled in the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy.

Deputy Chief of Operations

Deputy Chief Jake Bailey has served with Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue since 2005.

A licensed paramedic since 2008, he has worked as a Firefighter, Captain, and Battalion Chief before assuming his current role as Deputy Chief of Operations. In this position, he oversees the daily and special team operations for the department.  

Chief Bailey also serves as the department’s NFIRS Program Manager, managing and interpreting emergency response data to support operations and inform strategic planning.

Deputy Chief of Administration 

Deputy Chief Brian Dolan has served the community for over 18 years.

Throughout those years, he has operated in a variety of capacities, including Firefighter/EMT-B, Captain, Operational Battalion Chief, Logistics Battalion Chief, and currently Deputy Chief of Administration. 

In his current role, he is tasked with direct support of the operational staff, including managing the department's budget for equipment acquisition, and acting as a liaison between the RRFR staff and various city departments.

Fire Marshal

Fire Marshal Brian Johnson began his career with Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue in 2007.

He holds an associate degree in liberal arts and carries multiple certifications for Instructor, Fire Officer, Fire Inspector and Fire Investigator. He also holds certifications for Fire and Life Safety Plan Review. 

He has previously held the ranks of firefighter, engineer, and captain.

EMS Battalion Chief

Battalion Chief Chris Mandeville has been a member of the Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue Department since 2008.

In that time with RRFR he held the ranks of Firefighter/ Paramedic, EMS Lieutenant and Captain. He has also served as an instrumental member of the departments honor guard, and wildland strike team. 

Chief Mandeville is currently tasked overseeing the departments EMS operations.

Battalion Chief - Logistics

Battalion Chief Ryan Murphree has been with the Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue Department since 2011.

During his career he has served as Firefighter, Captain, and now as the Battalion Chief of Logistics. 

He has a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science and is currently working on his MBA. Chief Murphree’s current role includes apparatus and emergency equipment management as well as department asset tracking. 

Battalion Chief of Training

Battalion Chief Andrew Garcia began his career with Rio Rancho Department of Public Safety in 1998 as a Reserve member.

He was hired shortly thereafter in 2001 and since then has held the ranks of Engineer, Captain and Battalion Chief. 

Chief Garcia Currently heads the department’s training division including promotional exams, cadet academies and professional development.

Battalion Chief A- Shift

Battalion Chief Daniel Chavez began his career in the fire service in 1998 as a volunteer with Midway Fire Department in Limiter, NM. 

He joined the Rio Rancho Department of Public Safety in 2000 as a Reserve Firefighter and was hired by Rio Rancho in 2001. 

Since then, he has served as a Firefighter, Captain, and Battalion Chief, currently assigned to A-Shift South Battalion.

Battalion Chief A-Shift

Battalion Chief Damian Mainolfa is a long-time resident of Rio Rancho. 

He started his fire service career fighting wildfires for New Mexico State Forestry in 2006 before joining the department in 2007.

During his tenure Battalion Chief Mainolfa participated in the departments wildland strike team, and heavy technical rescue team. He is currently assigned to A-Shift, North Battalion.

Battalion Chief  B-Shift

Battalion Chief Jessica Duron-Martinez has served with Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue for 16 years and was previously the department’s Fire Marshal.

 She holds a Master of Public Administration in Organizational Leadership. 

Since 2017, she has been a dedicated member of the Peer Support Team, caring for the mental health and well-being of our firefighters. She is currently enrolled in the Executive Fire Officer Program through the National Fire Academy.

Battalion Chief B-Shift

Battalion Chief Malary Norton is an Operations Battalion Chief with 14 years of dedicated service to Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue. 

She holds a bachelor’s degree in emergency medicine from UNM and spent a decade as a Firefighter Paramedic before advancing to Captain and then Battalion Chief. Malary is a third-generation firefighter, continuing her family’s legacy of service. 

She is committed to modeling servant leadership to support and empower her crews, fostering the development of the next generation of leaders within the department.

Battalion Chief C-Shift

Battalion Chief Norm Michel has been a member of the department since 2007. 

In that time, he participated as a founding member of the Heavy Technical Rescue team and is currently a Dozer Boss and operator with the Heavy equipment team. 

Battalion Chief Michel has previously held the ranks of Engineer, and Captain before promoting to C-Shift South Battalion Chief.

Battalion Chief C-Shift

Battalion Chief Justin Millea has served with Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue for over 15 years, where he has provided dedicated service to the community. 

Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of roles, including Firefighter/EMT-Intermediate, Engineer, and Captain. 

He is assigned to the North Battalion out of Station 5 and continues to contribute his experience and leadership to the department’s operations.