Assistant Chief of Operations Brian Cruz brings 22 years of dedicated service to his new position. A lifelong public servant, Chief Cruz has served as a Firefighter/Paramedic, Engineer, Captain, and, most recently, as an operations Battalion Chief.
Chief Cruz holds an associate degree in Fire Science from Midland College and a Bachelor’s in Fire Administration from Texas A&M-San Antonio. He is a graduate of the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy. He holds multiple certifications from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, including Master Firefighter, Fire Officer II, Instructor, Hazmat Incident Commander, and Blue Card Incident Commander. Chief Cruz is a licensed paramedic through the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Known for his calm leadership and commitment to operational excellence, Chief Cruz is passionate about mentorship, accountability, and team development. Off duty, he is a devoted husband and father of two beautiful daughters. His vision is to lead with integrity while advancing the department's mission of service and safety.
Chief Cruz will be tasked with operational oversight of daily emergency operations, management of fiscal oversight for the operational budget, and oversight of the training division. Chief Cruz also serves on the City of Midland, safety prevention committee.