Command Staff
Fire Chief Troy Hughes was born and raised on the plains of Nebraska. His family was involved in farming, ranching, and several were associated with the railroad. Troy’s fire service career started in 1985 as a firefighter/EMT-B with the Grand Island Fire Department. Troy steadily rose through the ranks to achieve captain in 1992, division chief in 1998, and ultimately the fire chief in 2008. Troy was appointed to lead Los Alamos Fire Department in October of 2011. He has long desired to live in an area like Los Alamos. Troy has fond childhood memories of visits to family in Northern New Mexico and in the Colorado mountains. Troy enjoys many outdoor activities like hiking, bike riding, motorcycle riding, and camping.
Troy’s educational achievements include an A.A.S. in Fire Protection Technology, a B.A. in Public Administration, and a M.A. in Management with a Leadership Emphasis. Troy graduated Summa Cum Laude and was named the “Outstanding Graduate in the Public Administration Program” while completing his B.A. from Doane University. He is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. Troy completed the Center for Homeland Defense and Security Master’s Program at the Naval Postgraduate School in 2017. Troy is one of less than 1200 fire service professionals in the United States that hold a Chief Fire Officer designation from the Commission on Professional Credentialing. Troy has completed the Leadership New Mexico Core and State and Local Government programs. He has also completed the Leadership Los Alamos Program, the FBI Citizens Academy, and the Los Alamos County Leadership Academy.
Troy is very involved in his community. He has served as a board member for the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation and United Way of Northern New Mexico. He is the past president of the Los Alamos Public Safety Officers Association, is the past president of the Los Alamos Rotary Club, and served as the treasurer for the Los Alamos Committee for Higher Education. He is a perpetual member of the Los Alamos Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars and lifetime alumni member of Leadership New Mexico. Troy’s wife, Jodi, is a first grade teacher at Pinon elementary school. Troy and Jodi have two adult children. Their son, Michael, is a superintendent for Burlington Northern/Santa Fe railroad in White Fish, Montana and their daughter Kaylea is a police detective in Aurora, Illinois. Their grandchildren include Emma, Liam, and Benson, Delany, and Maylin.
troy.hughes@lacnm.us
Deputy Chief - Wendy Servey began her EMS/fire service career in 1997 for Cleveland EMS, then quickly transitioned to the fire service as a fire medic for Coventry Fire near Akron, Ohio. On a whim in 2004, she moved to New Mexico and started with Santa Fe County Fire Department. In 2006, she joined the Los Alamos Fire Department, completing her third academy and earning the nickname ‘g-ma.’ Deputy Chief Servey has spent 25 years in the fire service, with the last ten years changing to leadership roles at LAFD, including assignments as Battalion Chief of Safety, Operations, and Fire Marshal.
DC Servey has an Associate Degree in Fire Science, a Bachelor of Science degree in Technology, and a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Officer Program in 2019.
Wendy occasionally finds time to volunteer as a firefighter/paramedic in the community where she lives near Santa Fe. She and her partner Liz, who also volunteers as a firefighter, recently acquired a teardrop trailer to continue their hiking, traveling and lounging with their two rescue chocolate labs, Maisie and Bowen.
wendy.servey@lacnm.us
Division Chief (Wildland) - Kelly Sterna was born and raised in Deadwood, SD and graduated from Lead-Deadwood High School. After High School, Kelly attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, SD, in addition to furthering his education through Central New Mexico college in Albuquerque and Northern New Mexico College in Espanola. Kelly began his fire service career as a volunteer with Red River Fire Department for 4 years prior to coming to LAFD primarily as a wildland firefighter. In March of 2005, Kelly was hired by the Los Alamos Fire Department. Kelly holds National Wildland Coordinating Group (NWCG) for Engine Boss, Helicopter Crew member and Wildland Communications Technician.
During his 16 years at Los Alamos Fire Department Kelly has held the ranks of Firefighter I and II, Driver Engineer, Fire Captain, and Division Chief. He was also part of the Technical Rescue Team, Shift Training Team, SCBA team, and Communication team. Kelly has a daughter, who is pursuing a law degree at UT-Austin.
kelly.sterna@lacnm.us
Division Chief (Fire and Life Safety/ Fire Marshal) - James Pepe - was born in Waterloo, Iowa and raised in Albuquerque New Mexico. James graduated from Manzano high school in Albuquerque. James worked in retail management for over 20 years before joining Los Alamos Fire Department in 2005. James worked through the ranks of Firefighter I, Firefighter II and in 2008 to Driver Engineer. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2010. James studied EMS at Santa Fe Community College and completed his Associates Degree at Eastern New Mexico University. He has been part of the LAFD Technical Rescue Team, Fire Investigation and Inspection Team, HAZMAT Team, is a SCBA Technician and a Paramedic.
James lives in Albuquerque with his wife of 30 years, Cyndi. Cyndi is a manager at Sandia National Laboratory. James and Cyndi have three adult children Tayler, (Los Alamos Firefighter), Mariah (Teacher) and Kylie (Nurse), two sons-in-law Ethan (Corporate Procurement) and Max (Albuquerque Police Officer) and a dog “Otis.” James enjoys camping, hiking, down-hill skiing, scuba diving, golfing and spending time with family.
james.pepe@lacnm.us
Division Chief (Safety) - Todd Forsythe grew up in southern California. After graduating from Arrowhead Christian Academy he studied business at Cal State University, San Bernardino. After working as a manager for Big 5 Sporting Goods he decided to pursue a career in fire and put himself through California State Fire Academy. He was hired on with the USFS and was a wildland firefighter for six seasons in the San Bernardino National Forest. After not being able to secure permanent employment with the forest service he moved to Havasu City, Arizona where he was a manufacturing manager for Sterilite for five years. In 2000 he took a position with Intel, where he worked as a Team Leader while also earning his Associate’s degree in Engineering. Todd never lost the desire to be a firefighter however, and he decided to follow his true calling and was hired on by Los Alamos Fire Department in 2008.
During his thirteen years with LAFD Todd has ascended the ranks of Firefighter one and two, Driver Engineer, Captain and Division Chief. He is also a member of the Hazmat and is an EMT-I.
Todd lives in Jemez Springs with his wife Cheryl and their two dogs. His pride and joy are his two sons, who are both attending Arizona State University; Cole is pursuing a degree in Business and Jake in Computer Science. Todd enjoys restoring vintage vehicles, off-roading and riding his resto-mod Ford Bronco, being outdoors and spending time with his wife.
todd.forsythe@lacnm.us
Division Chief (EMS) - Chris Bartlett was born in Tulsa, OK and raised in Sacramento, CA. He studied EMS at Rogers University in Oklahoma and completed his Associate’s Degree at Eastern New Mexico University. In 1998, Chris proceeded into the challenging environment of urban prehospital EMS. He joined Los Alamos Fire Department in 2006 and promoted to the rank of Driver Engineer in January of 2011 and to the rank of Captain in December of 2011. Asa paramedic and firefighter for 20 years, Chris has enjoyed working in several unique settings, from a rural Oklahoma ambulance to high performance EMS systems in Tulsa, OK and Las Vegas, NV. Chris currently lives in Los Alamos with his two young children, Lily and Harlan.
christopher.bartlett@lacnm.us
Division Chief James Thwaits was born in Albuquerque, NM and moved to Los Alamos in 1985 where he lived until 1989 when he moved to Colorado. After graduating High School, James proudly served in the United States Marine Corps. He joined the Los Alamos Fire Department in 2006. James has climbed the ranks from Fire Fighter, Driver Engineer, Captain, to his current position as the Division Chief of Training. He has been part of the LAFD Technical Rescue Team, HAZMAT team, SCBA Team, Communications Team, and Bike Team. James currently has an A.A.S in Fire Science and is working on his Bachelor’s degree. James lives in White Rock with his wife, Katie, and their youngest daughter, Kailey; their oldest daughter, Kelsey, is a graduate of LAHS, UNM, and William and Mary Law, and is a licensed attorney in both New Mexico and California.
james.thwaits@lacnm.us
Division Chief (LANL Training) - Jeffrey Marshal Saiz was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado; raised in Pojoaque, New Mexico and now resides in Santa Fe. Jeff graduated from Pojoaque High School in 1993 and studied Biology at the Colorado University at Boulder. He graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry in 2003. Jeff worked as a Game Warden for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish for 3 years. In 2005, after he experienced a fire in his home, Jeff decided to pursue a career in professional firefighting and joined the Los Alamos Fire Department in January 2006. He has achieved the ranks of Firefighter I & II, Driver Engineer, Captain and in November 2021, he was promoted to Division Chief. Jeff has served on many specialty teams and received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Fire Science and an Associates of Applied Science degree in Paramedicine while with LAFD. Jeff is married to his wife Marissa, has three sons Zachary, Zayden and Zavery and two dogs Ava and Buddy.
jeff.saiz@lacnm.us
Division Chief ( Training) - Timothy Johnson
Battalion Chief Steve Saiz has been with the Los Alamos Fire Department for 18 years. Steve resides in Rio Rancho with his beautiful wife, Tammy Jo, and 2 amazing kids, Deegan and Aria. He is currently assigned as the B-shift Battalion Chief. Chief Saiz started in 2003 as a firefighter/EMT-Intermediate. He worked his way through the ranks, promoting to Driver/Engineer in 2007, Captain in 2009 and then to Battalion Chief in 2016.He has been part of many specialty teams including clothing/PPE custodian, Scott SCBA Technician, Technical Rescue Team member and the Occupational Health and Safety Committee. He assists the Administrative Services Team in supporting the Fire Suppression module of Accreditation. He had the privilege of being part of Los Alamos Fire Academy 20 as a Training Officer in 2009. He enjoys being on shift and plans to retire from there.
steve.saiz@lacnm.us
Battalion Chief Micah Brittelle was born in Albuquerque, NM and moved to Los Alamos in 1985. He joined the Los Alamos Fire Department in 2003 as a Firefighter/EMT. He promoted through the ranks from Firefighter, Driver Engineer 2011, Captain 2012, and Battalion Chief of operations 2019. As a Captain, he spent three years as the departments Training Officer before returning to shift work as a house Captain at station 1. He has been a member of the LAFD Hazardous Materials Team, SCBA Team, Bike Team and Technical Rescue Team, which he was the team lead of for six years. He received his AAS in fire science through UNM-LA in 2014. Micah currently lives in Los Alamos with his wife, Stacy, and daughters, Haiden, and Ella.
micah.brittelle@lacnm.us