Credits: ABC13
Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced on Friday morning that Thomas Muñoz will replace the current Houston Fire Department Chief, Sam Peña.
“He plans to retire. I thank him for his service,” Whitmire said during a call with KPRC 2’s Mario Diaz.
Reflecting on Peña’s tenure, Whitmire added, “He has served us during some difficult times. I said during the campaign my department heads will have six months to prove themselves and I think it’s time to make a change. I think we can do better, in fact, we will do better.”
Muñoz, who is currently the Office of Emergency Management Deputy Director and Emergency Coordinator, brings over 26 years of experience as a first responder and emergency manager, along with a background in the Coast Guard.
Peña, a 28-year veteran, has led the Houston Fire Department since December 19, 2016, managing the third-largest municipal fire department in the United States with over 3,000 personnel. His tenure was marked by a contentious legal battle with the firefighters’ union and former Mayor Sylvester Turner, which affected morale within the department.
Before his role in Houston, Peña served as the fire chief in El Paso, Texas, for nearly four years. He has extensive experience, having led the Houston Fire Department through significant events such as Hurricane Harvey, Winter Storm Uri, and the Watson Grinding explosion in 2020.
Peña holds a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and an MBA from the University of Texas at El Paso. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Association of Search and Rescue.
