SANTA FE –Roberto Lujan is stepping into the role of Director at the Santa Fe Regional Emergency Communications Center (RECC) after serving as the Interim Director since May 2022. The Santa Fe Regional Emergency Communications Center Board of Directors recommended the appointment at the August 4 meeting. Lujan brings 16 years of experience in emergency dispatch and communications to the job. |
|
 |
Julie Salazar, the President of Santa Fe County Telecommunicator’s Association, said, “We are optimistic that Santa Fe RECC can see positive, dramatic changes with the appointment of Roberto Lujan as Director.”
Lujan was born and raised in Santa Fe where he worked for his parents’ ice cream company as a child, and graduated from Santa Fe High School in 2004. Roberto began his career at Santa Fe County as a dispatcher, then worked in Los Alamos as a supervisor before returning to the leadership role in Santa Fe County.
“I had family working in public safety and always had an interest in becoming a first responder. However, when I began dispatching I immediately knew that this would be my lifelong role in public safety. It allowed me to help not only the public, but to be the lifeline between public safety responders and the community,” Lujan said.
The Santa Fe Regional Emergency Communications Center is a partnership between Santa Fe County and the City of Santa Fe, dispatching the appropriate agencies to all police, fire, medical, and animal control Emergency 911 and non-emergency calls. Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Brian Moya said, “I’ve already seen improvements in the RECC since Mr. Lujan became the interim director. Given his seniority and experience, he knows where the RECC needs to go.”
“The RECC Board of Directors unanimously recommended that Roberto Lujan be hired as the RECC Director for several reasons: his commitment to excellence; his passion for emergency dispatch, generally, and the RECC, as an organization; and his customer service attitude toward first responder agencies and the public,” said Santa Fe County Manager and RECC Board of Director Member Gregory S. Shaffer. “As County Manager and member of the RECC Board of Directors, I look forward to working with Director Lujan on a permanent basis to build on the positive momentum he has initiated during his time as Interim Director.”
Staffing is a high priority at the RECC. In July, the Santa Fe County Commissioners approved a salary increase, and hiring bonuses are in place to attract new staff. Lujan observed, “Our current staff deserves to be recognized for their hard work and countless hours dedicated to the RECC. We are all working together to recruit qualified staff so that we have all positions filled.” “Director Lujan has no problem sitting there next to staff members, coaching them, guiding them. He has no problem getting his hands dirty,” Julie Salazar said.
Elias Bernardino, Deputy County Manager, said, “Mr. Lujan has been instrumental in supporting the RECC staff to deliver services to Santa Fe County residents and visitors. He has demonstrated the aptitude to transform the department where staff have a sense of support from management and provide great customer service.” Bernardino continued, “I look forward to collaborating with Director Lujan and the RECC staff to enhance the services we provide.”
“I am honored that the RECC Board of Directors and Santa Fe County have entrusted me with the role of RECC Director and I will do my very best to serve our agencies, community and my staff,” Lujan said of his appointment.
###
|
