Tempe Fire Chief Greg Ruiz has been selected as interim deputy city manager after serving the past 28 years with the city’s fire and medical rescue department.

He is a certified public manager from the Advanced Public Executive Program at Arizona State University and has “an extensive instructor background,” according to a city release.

“He has worked his way through the ranks of the service while acquiring his bachelor’s degree in public administration from Grand Canyon University and his master’s in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University,” the release stated.

Ruiz is a graduate of Tempe Leadership class XXII , Homeland Security Executive Leaders Program at the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security and Executive Fire Officer Program.

He has taught at community colleges since 1993 in the areas of emergency medicine and fire science, according to the city.