Duties: The First Responders Preparedness Planning Group will provide review and comment on proposed projects and grant applications concerning the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) and will make its recommendations to the RGCOG Board of Directors.
Composition: The voting membership of the Planning Group shall be composed of representatives from the following:
- Chief of Police for the El Paso Police Department or the Assistant Chief
- Chief of the El Paso Fire Department or the Assistant Chief
- El Paso County Sheriff or his Chief Deputy
- Coordinator to the Office of Emergency Management of the City/County of El Paso
- Trauma Clinical Coordinator for the University Medical Center
- El Paso County Judge
- Hudspeth County Judge
- Culberson County Judge
- Jeff Davis County Judge
- Presidio County Judge
- Brewster County Judge
- Tribal Governor for the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo
- Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo First Responder Representative
- Rural First Responder Representative for Culberson & Hudspeth Counties
- Rural First Responder Representative for Jeff Davis, Presidio, and Brewster Counties
- Trauma Service Area I
- Education Infrastructure
- RGCOG President/Committee Chair Appointee
The non-voting membership may include the following:
- Disaster District Chairman (DDC) for the Department of Public Safety Disaster District 8
- District Coordinator for Disaster District 8 for the Texas Division Emergency Management
- District Coordinator for District 9, Fort Stockton, for the Texas Division Emergency Management
- State Coordinator Region 4, Texas Division of Emergency Management
- Representative from Texas’ 16th Congressional district office
- Representative from Texas’ 23rd Congressional district office
Seats: 18 Committee (Voting members) and 6 Non-voting members
Term: The term of membership will be every year. Membership will be reviewed by the RGCOG Board of Directors every year to ensure the direction and focus for the region is maintained.
Contact: Cynthia Mendez, Regional Services Coordinator
Contact Email: Cynthiam@riocog.org
Contact Phone: 915-533-0998 x 138
Meeting dates: The Committee will meet at least semi-annually or more frequently if required.
County Judges
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Honorable Ricardo Samaniego | El Paso County | County Judge | Governmental Administrative |
| The Honorable Tom McNeely | Hudspeth County | County Judge | Governmental Administrative |
| The Honorable Carlos Urias | Culberson County | County Judge | Governmental Administrative |
| The Honorable Kerith Sproul | Jeff Davis County | County Judge | Governmental Administrative |
| The Honorable Cinderela Guevara | Presidio County | County Judge | Governmental Administrative |
| The Honorable Eleazar Cano | Brewster County | County Judge | Governmental Administrative |
Tribal Governor for the the YSleta Del Sur Pueblo
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribal Governor Michael Silvas | YSDP | Tribal Governor | Governmental Administrative |
RGCOG PRESIDENT/COMMITTEE CHAIR APPOINTEE
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Honorable Eleazar Cano | Brewster County | County Judge | Governmental Administrative |
EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief of Police Greg K. Allen | City of El Paso Police Department | Chief of Police | Law Enforcement |
EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Honorable Richard D. Wiles | El Paso County Sheriff’s Office | El Paso County Sheriff | Law Enforcement |
EL Paso Fire Department
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Chief Mario D’Agostino | City of El Paso | Fire Chief | Fire Service |
Office of Emergency Management of the City/County of EL Paso
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy Chief Jorge A. Rodriguez | City of El Paso | Emergency Management Coordinator | Emergency Management |
YSleta Del Sur Pueblo First Responder Representative
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Josh Garcia | YSDP | Coordinator | Emergency Management |
Trauma Clinical Coordinator for the Univercity Medical Center
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms. Sandra Gonzalez | UMC | Director, Trauma Program | Healthcare |
Rural First Responder Representative for Cluberson Hudspeth Counties
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Honorable Oscar Carrillo | Law Enforcement | Culberson County Sheriff | Law Enforcement |
Rural First Responder Representative for Jeff Davis, Presidio, & Brewster Counties
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Gary Mitschke | Presidio County | Presidio County EMC | Emergency Management |
Trauma Service Area I
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms. Wanda Helgesen, RN, MSN | City of El Paso | Executive Director | Healthcare |
Education Infrastructure
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief of Police Clifton C. Walsh | University of Texas at El Paso | Chief of Police | Education |
EX Officio Members
| Name | Entity | Position | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain Luis Najera | Department of Public Safety Disaster District 8 | Disaster District Chairman(DDC) | Governmental Administrative |
| Mr. Al Talavera | Department of Public Safety, Texas Division of Emergency Management | State Coordinator Region 4 | Governmental Administrative |
| Mr. David Marquez | Department of Public Safety District 4B, Texas Division of Emergency Management | District Coordinator 4B | Governmental Administrative |