Grand Island Fire Department Training Division Chief Troy Hughes has been very busy completing some long-term educational goals. On May 18 Hughes graduated from Doane College with a Masters of Art in Management with a leadership emphasis. On May 30 Hughes completed the last course of a four year Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. On June 2 Hughes graduated from the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Tomorrow program.
Hughes also holds two other educational degrees, an Associates of Applied Science in Fire Protection Technology from Southeast Community College and a Bachelors of Art in Public Administration from Doane College. Hughes has 23 years of experience with the Grand Island Fire Department. He served his first six years with the department as a firefighter EMT-B, the next seven years as a captain, and the last ten years as the training division chief.
As a result of these educational goals being achieved, Hughes will focus on developing leadership skills within the fire department and increase his community volunteer efforts. His current volunteer activities include: Project Hunger, Red Cross blood donor, fundraising and community investment evaluator for the United Way, Rotary Club member, and serving on the board of directors for Leadership Tomorrow Alumni Association and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Troy and his wife Jodi, who is literacy coach for Grand Island Public Schools, have two adult children, Kaylea who is a foster children’s case manager and lives in the Seattle area and Michael who is a train conductor that lives in Grand Island.