El Paso native named as new animal services director

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The City of El Paso announced the appointment of Terry Kebschull as the City’s Director of Animal Services.

Kebschull, who graduated from the El Paso Fire Academy in 1991, has risen up the ranks of the Fire Department.

Kebschull was promoted to Lieutenant in 2002, was named a Captain in 2007, a Battalion Chief in 2011, and then an Assistant Chief in 2017 overseeing the Division of Capital Assets and Personnel Support. Kebschull had dedicated more than 30 years to fulfilling the critical lifesaving mission of the department, to provide emergency response, prevention, preparedness, and education to our city so they can live safely and prosper in a hazard-resilient community.

Kebschull transitioned from emergency operations duties to administration, where he worked on developing and updating policy and procedures, budgeting, strategic planning, facility oversight, fire medical oversight and development, warehousing, professional standards, data management, accreditations for the fire department.

As a Lean Six Sigma certified team member, Kebschull partnered with the El Paso Animal Services Department to develop controlled substance diversion policies, update procedures, and add and modify the kennels.

Terry is an extraordinary example of the internal and dynamic talent we have at the City of El Paso. Terry has been instrumental in working on several cross-functional teams within our organization.” City Manager Tommy Gonzalez said. “In those teams, he has been a part of, that include multiple city departments; he has demonstrated strong leadership and dynamic ways of communicating across departments and into different segments of our community.

"I'm honored and excited to join El Paso Animal Services in a leadership capacity, especially during a time of such innovation and change in animal welfare across the Nation. El Paso is my home, and I’ve built strong relationships in our community and have a deep commitment to working collaboratively. I find inspiration in our community’s passion and advocacy for the welfare of animals, and I’m looking forward to working together to meet the needs of animals and humans alike,” said Kebschull.

Kebschull has a Bachelor of Science from Columbia Southern University.

He will begin his new role as Director of Animal Services on Monday.