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The city of Las Cruces has selected Michael Daniels, a 19-year veteran of the Las Cruces Fire Department, as its new fire chief.
He will take command on March 24.
Daniels replaces Jason Smith who retired Jan. 31 after 22 years of service. Deputy Chief Sean Heck has been serving as Interim Fire Chief since Feb. 1.
“I selected Michael Daniels as our next fire chief after a very competitive selection process with strong external and internal candidates,” said City Manager Ikani Taumoepeau. “It’s a testament to the Las Cruces Fire Department and the City of Las Cruces that we have such well-trained and highly qualified personnel who are capable of stepping in and fulfilling the duties of this vital position.
“I have every bit of confidence that Michael will do a wonderful job leading the Las Cruces Fire Department and engaging with our community for years to come.”
Daniels has been a deputy chief with LCFD since January 2023. He began his career with LCFD in July 2006 after serving in the U.S. Navy and quickly moved through the ranks. He has served as a driver/operator, interim training officer, lieutenant/paramedic and battalion chief before earning the rank of deputy chief.
He is the current president of the Southwestern Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and is one of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s appointees on the New Mexico Fire Protection Grant Council. Daniels has also attained executive fire officer designation from the National Fire Academy.
Daniels has amassed several awards and commendations through the years. In 2011 he was named Firefighter of the Year by the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce and in 2020 he received a National Fire Academy Outstanding Research Award for the highest-rated Community Risk Reduction research paper published in 2019 through the Executive Fire Officer Program.
Daniels earned his bachelor’s degree of individual studies in 2012 from New Mexico State University. He was an Honor’s Graduate and earned a master’s degree in business administration in 2017 from Western New Mexico University.
