When others run away from the fire, Samuel Pena runs towards it. And he’s been doing it for more than 20 years because he’s a firefighter.

Beginning his firefighting career in 1994, in his hometown of El Paso, TX, after serving a four-and-a-half-year stint in the Air Force, Pena rose through the ranks. He was a paramedic, media spokesperson, advanced medical coordinator, a member of the Combined Search and Rescue Team, Hazardous Materials & Special Rescue Task Force, and Training Chief for the El Paso Fire Academy before he would become the Fire Chief. That experience would grow a desire for a bigger challenge, so he took on the job of Houston’s Fire Chief. Officially sworn in December 2016, Pena has been Houston’s Fire Chief for nine months. Not too bad for a guy who became a firefighter simply because he just needed a job.

As a young boy, Pena didn’t grow up dressing up like a firefighter. Nor did he pretend to put out fires during his playtime. He never even uttered the words, “When I grow up I want to be a firefighter.” What he did want was a service career where he could help people and be at home more with his wife and children. “What I did have in my heart was that I wanted to be in a capacity where I would be able to serve others and make a positive impact in people’s lives,” said Pena. With degrees in criminal justice and business, he thought he could fulfill his purpose with either the police or fire department. He applied for both and the fire department called back first with an offer for him to suit up. “Twenty-two years later and it worked out well, “ said Pena.

In his time as a firefighter, Pena has developed a satisfaction about his ability and opportunity to be able to serve others, improve working conditions, and improve the health and safety of citizen. “I think that is what’s most rewarding about careers in fire service. “

As much as it is a rewarding career, it has it challenges, especially when you are the head guy. Coming into the position of Houston’s top fire guy, Pena was faced with the pressing issues of a shrinking budget, aging fleet and the need for professional development. All of which need funding to be handled but we are all aware of the city’s budget constraints and so is Pena. Still, he is confident and optimistic that solutions will be developed to tackle these issues. His source of certainty comes from the people of Houston’s willingness to be apart of the solution. “We will find a way to meet the community’s expectations and do it so that it is responsible to the taxpayers and acknowledges the good work of firefighters,” confirmed Pena.

Already he has gained some positive results. Recently, signing a new labor management agreement, Pena hopes this will be leverage in aiding in the development of a working dialogue with the labor department to efficiently manage the organization.

Working hard, treating people right, and always preparing yourself for what comes his way has been Pena formula for success. He also gives credit to never losing sight of how blessed he is and not wasting any opportunity afforded him. “This country affords an opportunity for those who persevere, for those who stay focus, for those that do the right thing in order to prepare themselves to take advantage of opportunities that will inevitably present themselves,” commented Pena.

Being prepared is a lesson that he stresses to today’s youth. Understanding his responsibility as a role model to not just Hispanic youth but youth of any ethnicity, Pena teaches about the importance of building relationships to further others’ goals, a different approach than most would take. However, Pena believes helping others’ achieve their goals is one of the best ways to learn about management and leadership.

“If you work at something, whatever it is, diligently and try to do your work that other people value and you treat people correctly and you prepare yourself to take opportunities you will be successful,” said Pena, as he is a living example of that creed.

More than just those lessons, Pena also has added political commentary and positive support to keep pushing youth towards their goals, especially those of Hispanic descent who are fearful of the future with the DACA legislation. “It doesn’t make sense to me,” Pena said as he went on to talk about how he considers it to be irresponsible to hold children accountable for the actions of their parents. “We need to have an open mind and consider the impact of what we are saying. We can’t mass deport all of these individuals who have come here really - and we have heard this term before – through no fault of their own.” Pena continued, “They were brought here as children. They have grown up in this country. They have played by the rules. And now I think we owe it to them to do the hard work and find a reasonable solution to the decision because they are, in fact, by all sense of the word, American.”

Some of the very men and women that Pena has the honor and privilege of serving alongside are worried about the status of their future in this country. That is sad when these are the same people that risk their own life daily in keeping the citizens of this city safe and out of harm’s way.

“That is the essence of what it is to be an American. It is picking yourself up by your bootstraps, helping others along the way, and doing the right thing for your fellow man,” said Pena as he talked about how those same firefighters demonstrated that during the devastating Hurricane Harvey. And they did that not for praise or a thank you but because they simply wanted to serve.

Serving others is something that has been in Pena’s DNA since he was born. His parents instilled it in him. And it is his focus in everything that he does. It is what makes him proud to be not just a Hispanic American but also an American period. He is a man with a servant’s heart.