Questa native Michael Cordova has been named New Mexico Fire Chief of the Year by the New Mexico Fire and EMS Expo Committee. Cordova has been the Taos County Fire and Rescue Chief for the past eight years. In that time, he garnered $9 million in grants to improve the infrastructure and resources for Taos County fire districts and the Questa Fire Department.

Cordova, a 2006 Questa High School graduate, has been proactive in his work, building good relationships with the Taos County Commissioners and Taos County Manger and Deputy County Manager Brent Jaramillo and Jason Silva to build out a strong working department. He has worked to strategically allocate A Taos County GRT fund for his department as well as other fire departments within Taos County including the Questa Fire/ EMS Department, Taos Ski Valley Department, Red River Fire Department and the Taos Fire Department.

Cordova along with Taos County officials have overseen a compensation pay increase for the Taos County Fire and Rescue Department. Looking forward, Cordova is dedicated to bolstering the support and resources for local agencies. Beginning in November there will be paid personnel in the Penasco area with hopes to expand that strategy to the northern and western area of Taos County in the future to ensure that small towns across the county have a combination of volunteer and paid Fire and EMS coverage 24/7, 365 days a year

Cordova extends thanks to all who have helped throughout his career and does not forget any of them who helped him get to where he is today.