The Hobbs Fire Department (HFD) has a new chief. After a nationwide search, the department’s leadership is being handed over to Deputy Fire Chief Barry Young, a Hobbs native. Since 2020 Young has been serving as Acting Fire Chief. During his time as Acting Fire Chief, Young’s former boss Fire Chief Manny Gomez has assumed the role of City of Hobbs Acting City Manager.
Expressing his approval of Young’s promotion to fire chief Gomez states in a City of Hobbs press release, “A fire chief’s passion for the fire service is infectious, and I believe Chief Young has a reputation as being a leader others want to follow!”
Young will be promoted to his new position on August 8. According to the press release, Young has worked for the city for more than 19 years and has been with the HFD since 2003.
Since 2013 Young has been Hobbs’ Deputy Fire Chief. During his time as Deputy Fire Chief, Young has demonstrated commanding leadership. The press release states that he has been instrumental in “several large projects to include fire station renovations, countless community campaigns and initiatives, spearheading grant writing efforts for seven firefighter positions and creating leadership development initiatives.” During the COVID crises he additionally initiated many positive changes to HFD safe practices and policies.
The HFD Facebook page comments that Young began his career as a firefighter. He was later promoted to the positions of Driver, Paramedic, EMS Division Chief and finally Deputy Fire Chief.
Before he was EMS Division Chief, Young was “President of the Hobbs Professional Firefighters Association, Local 4384,” states the press release. In this role “he led the membership in contract negotiations and worked hand-in-hand with city administration to ensure high quality in the HFD workplace.”
Young was honored last week by Acting City Manager Gomez and the Hobbs City Commission for completing the Maddox Leadership Institute. The JF Maddox Foundation website states, “The Maddox Leadership Institute is a nine-month, evidence-informed leadership development program that builds individual knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in aspiring community leaders.” The program is funded by the JF Maddox Foundation and taught “… by faculty from the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development out of the University of Georgia.” The course in which Young participated took place in Hobbs specifically to educate and cultivate outstanding young professionals in the Hobbs community.
In addition to attending the Maddox Leadership Institute, Young has participated in the Weldon Cooper LEAD (Leading, Educating and Developing) for Public Service program and the International Association of Fire Chiefs Executive Chief Officer Leadership course.
Young is a graduate of Hobbs High School and College of the Southwest (now renamed University of the Southwest) where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. He then studied at Eastern New Mexico College where he attended Paramedics School. He received his Masters Degree in Disaster Preparedness and Executive Fire Leadership from Grand Canyon University.
Young and his wife have a son and a daughter, ages 16 and 15 respectively. Young’s daughter is an avid softball player, and Young both coaches and travels with her team.
An active member of the Hobbs community, Young has and is working with and serving on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations. The list includes Boys and Girls Club, MyPower and United Way of Lea County. He also is a member of Nor-Lea Hospital’s COVID Vaccination Task Force.
In the press release Young comments that he is “honored and humbled” by the appointment and that he has a “tremendous passion for serving the community and ensuring our residents are cared for.” He also says, “You can expect the Hobbs Fire Department to respond to any call we receive with a high level of professionalism and a positive attitude each and every day. I look forward to further progress in the department and ensuring we operate at a high level and meet all expectations of the community.”
