Fire Department Chief, Richard Dietz, began work as a rookie firefighter for the Odessa Fire Dept. in April of 1977. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in June of 1984 and to the rank of Battalion Chief in March of 1996. He was appointed Chief of the Odessa Fire Dept. on November 23rd 2004 and retired on 2009.

Chief Dietz is 48 years old and graduated from the Odessa High School in 1975. He has an Associates Degree in Fire Science from Odessa College and has attended the Executive Fire Officer's Program at the National Fire Academy in Maryland.
 

His wife is Polly and they have a daughter, Jessica and a son, Alex. He is a native Odessan and has lived in Odessa all his life.