Grand Prairie Announces Selection of Next Fire Chief

Grand Prairie Announces Selection of Next Fire Chief

Published on October 12, 2026

The City of Grand Prairie is proud to announce the selection of James Kubinski to serve as the City's next fire chief. Kubinski brings nearly 30 years of experience and currently serves as fire chief for the City of Killeen, Texas.

Kubinski's selection follows an extensive nationwide search that attracted 64 applicants and resulted in three finalists. As part of the selection process, stakeholders, including employees, business representatives and residents, were invited to meet the finalists at a community meet-and-greet.

"Selecting our next fire chief has been one of the most important tasks of my career," said City Manager Bill Hills. "We searched extensively for the most qualified person to lead our well-established department. I am confident that Kubinski will continue to build on this strong foundation and lead the more than 200 Grand Prairie Fire Department men and women who proudly serve and protect our community."

As Killeen's fire chief, Kubinski oversees emergency operations, emergency management and preparedness, community risk reduction, and strategic and capital planning. Under his leadership, the department has maintained its ISO Class 1 rating and American Heart Association Gold Plus recognition. The department also increased staffing, expanded emergency response resources, and implemented new lifesaving programs. His leadership philosophy emphasizes trust, accountability, transparency, responsible stewardship of public resources, employee development and continuous improvement.

"This is an amazing opportunity to lead the men and women of the Grand Prairie Fire Department," Kubinski said. "I am inheriting an outstanding team created by previous leaders who have moved Grand Prairie forward. I have big shoes to fill, but I'm confident I can become part of the legacy that provides great service focused on the citizens of this great city and the men and women of this department."

Kubinski is expected to begin his new role as Grand Prairie's fire chief in January, pending City Council approval. He will succeed Fire Chief Robert Fite, who is preparing to retire after nearly 40 years in the fire service, including 14 years leading the Grand Prairie Fire Department. Additional information regarding the leadership transition will be announced at gptx.org.

• Fire Department