Mayor Nick Gradisar on Thursday announced he is selecting a woman to take over as the next chief of the Pueblo Fire Department, making her the first woman to ever hold that position in Pueblo.
Gradisar has chosen Barbara Huber, who currently is a captain with the fire department, as the new fire chief following the retirement of of former Fire Chief Shawn Shelton in April. Rick Potter had been serving as acting fire chief in Shelton's place.
In a news release announcing Huber as fire chief, Gradisar thanked Potter for serving as chief in the interim basis, and said his decision in no way reflects adversely on Potter.
Huber has been a member of the Pueblo Fire Department since 1998, and a captain since 2007, according Debra Hill, the public information officer for the city of Pueblo.
She spent 20 years in the military, serving in the National Guard and Air Force Reserve, before retiring as a master sergeant; worked briefly as an El Paso County deputy sheriff; and in 1998, became just the second female firefighter in the history of the Pueblo Fire Department.
Gradisar said there were six candidates for the position and that he chose Huber because she possesses "the leadership and skills the department needs to move forward."
Gradisar said all of the candidates were outstanding and that it was difficult for him to make the decision, but that he feels Huber is the best person to lead the department as it moves forward, and reflects the diversity of the Pueblo community and the call to adapt to cultural changes occurring in fire departments nationwide.
City Council will have to confirm Huber as fire chief, and Gradisar urged them to do so as soon as possible.
If confirmed, Huber will formally take over as fire chief on Aug. 31.
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