Longtime firefighter duo selected to lead Red, White and Blue Fire Protection District as new chief and CEO

The Red, White and Blue Fire Protection District swore in two new leaders – a fire chief and a general manager – during a ceremony in Breckenridge on Tuesday, May 28.

The fire district's board of directors promoted C. Andrew “Drew” Hoehn to fire chief and Jay T. Nelson to general manager, according to a news release.

Hoehn and Nelson previously served as deputy chiefs of the Red, White and Blue and “will continue to lead the district under a new concept of dyad leadership,” which capitalizes “on their complementary strengths and highly collaborative relationship,” the statement said. communicated.

Nelson will oversee administration, including human resources, finance, community risk reduction and district facilities, while Hoehn will oversee fire and EMS operations, training, security, special operations and fleet of the district, according to Red, White and Blue.

Nelson joined Red, White & Blue in 1998 as a volunteer firefighter and driver and became a fire inspector in 2002. Since joining the organization, he has held the ranks of deputy fire marshal, fire marshal , deputy chief of administration and acting fire chief. .

Hoehn began his firefighting career in 1996 in St. Louis County, Missouri before moving to Summit County in 2003. Throughout his local career, he served as a firefighter/EMT paramedic, lieutenant, training lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, acting chief of emergency medical services. , deputy chief of operations and training, and acting fire chief.

Former Red, White and Blue Chief Jim Keating retired last June after more than 46 years in the fire service and a decade in Summit County.