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First Responders Preparedness Planning Group

Duties:  The First Responders Preparedness Planning Group will provide review and comment on proposed projects and grant applications concerning the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) and will make its recommendations to the RGCOG Board of Directors.

Composition: The voting membership of the Planning Group shall be composed of representatives from the following:

  • Chief of Police for the El Paso Police Department or the Assistant Chief
  • Chief of the El Paso Fire Department or the Assistant Chief
  • El Paso County Sheriff or his Chief Deputy
  • Coordinator to the Office of Emergency Management of the City/County of El Paso
  • Trauma Clinical Coordinator for the University Medical Center
  • El Paso County Judge
  • Hudspeth County Judge
  • Culberson County Judge
  • Jeff Davis County Judge
  • Presidio County Judge
  • Brewster County Judge
  • Tribal Governor for the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo
  • Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo First Responder Representative
  • Rural First Responder Representative for Culberson & Hudspeth Counties
  • Rural First Responder Representative for Jeff Davis, Presidio, and Brewster Counties
  • Trauma Service Area I
  • Education Infrastructure
  • RGCOG President/Committee Chair Appointee

The non-voting membership may include the following:

  • Disaster District Chairman (DDC) for the Department of Public Safety Disaster District 8
  • District Coordinator for Disaster District 8 for the Texas Division Emergency Management
  • District Coordinator for District 9, Fort Stockton, for the Texas Division Emergency Management
  • State Coordinator Region 4, Texas Division of Emergency Management
  • Representative from Texas’ 16th Congressional district office
  • Representative from Texas’ 23rd Congressional district office

Seats: 18 Committee (Voting members) and 6 Non-voting members

Term: The term of membership will be every year. Membership will be reviewed by the RGCOG Board of Directors every year to ensure the direction and focus for the region is maintained.

Contact: Cynthia Mendez, Regional Services Coordinator

Contact Email:  Cynthiam@riocog.org

Contact Phone:  915-533-0998 x 138

Meeting dates: The Committee will meet at least semi-annually or more frequently if required.

County Judges
Name Entity Position Discipline
The Honorable Ricardo Samaniego El Paso County County Judge Governmental Administrative
The Honorable Tom McNeely Hudspeth County County Judge Governmental Administrative
The Honorable Carlos Urias Culberson County County Judge Governmental Administrative
The Honorable Kerith Sproul Jeff Davis County County Judge Governmental Administrative
The Honorable Cinderela Guevara Presidio County County Judge Governmental Administrative
The Honorable Eleazar Cano Brewster County County Judge Governmental Administrative
Tribal Governor for the the YSleta Del Sur Pueblo
Name Entity Position Discipline
Tribal Governor Michael Silvas YSDP Tribal Governor Governmental Administrative

RGCOG PRESIDENT/COMMITTEE CHAIR APPOINTEE

Name Entity Position Discipline
The Honorable Eleazar Cano Brewster County County Judge Governmental Administrative

EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT

Name Entity Position Discipline
Chief of Police Greg K. Allen City of El Paso Police Department Chief of Police Law Enforcement

EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF

Name Entity Position Discipline
The Honorable Richard D. Wiles El Paso County Sheriff’s Office El Paso County Sheriff Law Enforcement
EL Paso Fire Department
Name Entity Position Discipline
Fire Chief Mario D’Agostino City of El Paso Fire Chief Fire Service
Office of Emergency Management of the City/County of EL Paso
Name Entity Position Discipline
Deputy Chief Jorge A. Rodriguez City of El Paso Emergency Management Coordinator Emergency Management
YSleta Del Sur Pueblo First Responder Representative
Name Entity Position Discipline
Mr. Josh Garcia YSDP Coordinator Emergency Management
Trauma Clinical Coordinator for the Univercity Medical Center
Name Entity Position Discipline
Ms. Sandra Gonzalez UMC Director, Trauma Program Healthcare
Rural First Responder Representative for Cluberson Hudspeth Counties
Name Entity Position Discipline
The Honorable Oscar Carrillo Law Enforcement Culberson County Sheriff Law Enforcement
Rural First Responder Representative for Jeff Davis, Presidio, & Brewster Counties
Name Entity Position Discipline
Mr. Gary Mitschke Presidio County Presidio County EMC Emergency Management
Trauma Service Area I
Name Entity Position Discipline
Ms. Wanda Helgesen, RN, MSN  City of El Paso Executive Director Healthcare
Education Infrastructure
Name Entity Position Discipline
Chief of Police Clifton C. Walsh University of Texas at  El Paso Chief of Police Education
EX Officio Members
Name Entity Position Discipline
Captain Luis Najera Department of Public Safety Disaster District  8 Disaster District Chairman(DDC) Governmental Administrative
Mr. Al Talavera Department of Public Safety, Texas Division    of Emergency Management State Coordinator Region 4 Governmental Administrative
Mr. David Marquez Department of Public Safety District 4B, Texas Division of Emergency Management District Coordinator 4B Governmental Administrative