Chief Troy Koteras has served in Fire & EMS in the Houston-area for 30 years, and has held numerous positions in management and operations.

Chief Koteras joined South Montgomery County in June 2017 as the Deputy Chief of Operations, where he planned, organized, and directed the Operations and Training Divisions of the department. He was promoted to Assistant Chief in November of 2020. As Assistant Chief, in addition to overseeing the Operations and Training Divisions, his responsibilities include creating, updating, and revising policies and procedures, managing department resources within the confines of the annual budget, and assisting with the strategic and long-term planning of the organization.

He’s certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as a Master Structure Firefighter, Fire Officer IV, Fire Instructor II, Incident Commander, Incident Safety Officer, Hazardous Materials Incident Commander, and Driver Operator-Pumper. He’s also a licensed Texas Paramedic.

Chief Koteras has also been a member of the Houston Fire Department since Nov. 7, 1994, and is currently assigned as a District Chief. From 2002 to 2013, he was employed as the Assistant Chief – EMS for HCESD #46 (Atascocita Fire Department). From 1997 to 2006, he was employed as an EMS Instructor/Examiner for the San Jacinto College District in Houston. From 1993 to 2003, he was employed as the Operations Director for North Channel EMS in Houston.

Assistant Chief Joseph Leggio joined the South Montgomery County Fire Department in July 2022. As Chief of Operations, he directs daily emergency response to incidents which include fire suppression operations, medical emergencies, technical rescue, and hazardous materials scenes. His oversight of the training division ensures personnel maintain the skills and expertise that bolster the department’s operational readiness.

Chief Leggio served over 22 years with the Houston Fire Department. He promoted through the ranks to District Chief and performed the role of District Training Officer. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science from Columbia Southern University and a Master’s degree in Executive Leadership from Liberty University. Chief Leggio maintains many certifications including Master Structure Firefighter, Hazardous Materials Technician, Hazardous Materials Incident Commander, and Instructor II.

Assistant Chief Leggio would state that the driving forces in his life include faith in God and love for his family. He appreciates the opportunity to be part of SMCFD and he looks forward to serving the South Montgomery County community.

Chief Matthew (Matt) Adelman began his career in the fire service as a volunteer at Pecan Grove Fire Department near Richmond, Texas. From there, he’s served in various fire/EMS service capacities all throughout the state of Texas — ranging from small, single-station volunteer departments to a very large municipality. He has worked diligently, and he currently holds the rank of Battalion Chief at Montgomery County ESD# 8.

From a young age, Chief Adelman has enjoyed helping people and always knew he wanted to pursue a career in the fire service. After graduating high school, he attended Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas, where he completed an Associates in Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health. While working on this degree, he simultaneously completed his EMT-Basic training at McClennan County Community College. He then went on to the University of North Texas, where he completed a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree in Emergency Management and Criminal Justice. He returned to Houston after he completed his degree, where he continued to pursue his passion by volunteering at Atascocita Fire Department. A short time later, he was employed full-time by a large municipality.

After completing fire training and the required probationary period, Chief Adelman completed paramedic training at Houston Community College and was hired as a part-time paramedic for Atascocita Fire Department. As his time at Atascocita progressed, he was offered a full-time position as the Emergency Management Coordinator for the organization. In addition, Chief Adelman was responsible for large-scale project management within the department. He also developed a PM and maintenance program for the fleet and facilities, and he coordinated repairs for the organization. In June 2018, he accepted the Battalion Chief of Emergency Preparedness role at Montgomery County ESD# 8.

Chief Nathan Huffman came to South Montgomery County by way of North Texas. Originally born and raised in Bonham, Texas, he began his fire service career as a firefighter in Sherman, Texas, and during his 12 years there, Chief Huffman was promoted through the ranks and eventually held the position of Division Chief of Fire Prevention/Fire Marshal for the city.

He joined the South Montgomery County Fire Department in April 2014, where he is now the Battalion Chief of Safety and Training for the department. His primary responsibility is to coordinate, instruct, and deliver daily training for all departmental personnel. Chief Huffman holds Master certifications as a Firefighter, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Arson Investigator, Fire Officer, Fire Instructor and Paramedic, and he also holds a Texas Peace Officer License. He also holds many certifications in advanced rescue.

Chief Huffman looks forward to serving the members of this department and citizens of this community, and he’s very excited about the potential growth and development of this area.

Chief Mike Johnson has been an active member of the public safety community for more than 43 years, with experience in fire service, emergency medical services, and emergency service training. He was appointed Assistant Fire Chief by Chief Hudson in October 2009 and became A Shift Battalion Chief in January 2016.

He came to Texas from Florida, where he was the Fire Chief of Lake City. During his career, he has held the roles of Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Battalion Chief, Training Chief, Captain, and Lieutenant, and he’s served in Texas, Florida, Michigan, California, Kansas, and Missouri.

He’s a Texas-certified Advanced Firefighter, Fire Officer IV, and Fire Instructor II, and he holds a Hazardous Materials Technician certification, Chief Johnson has a broad span of knowledge in large-water supply training for fire departments and has ISO consulting work experience. Chief Johnson was also the Regional Manager for Ferrara Fire Apparatus for the state of Texas from July 2007 to February 2017.

Chief Johnson had the honor to serve as one of the responders to the World Trade Center disaster in New York City, working search and recovery activities at Ground Zero from Sept. 12-14, 2001.

Chief Mike Butler has been an active member of the fire service for 30 years and has served the citizens of Montgomery County Emergency Services District #8 for the past 20 years.

He began his fire service career in 1988 with the Pecan Grove Volunteer Fire Department as a junior firefighter. In the summer of 1991, he moved to the Conroe area, where he joined the Needham Fire Department and served as a firefighter up to the rank of Lieutenant. In May 1998, he was hired by the former South Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department as a part-time paid firefighter. In 2000, he was hired as one of the first three full-time firefighters and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Chief Butler was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2004.

On April 1, 2009, the ESD took over the operations of the fire department, and at the rank of Captain, he was made the Shift Commander, overseeing the B shift. In September 2011, Chief Butler was promoted to his current rank of Battalion Chief, where he currently serves as the District 1 Battalion Chief on the B shift.

Chief Curtis Pratt joined South Montgomery County Fire Department in September 2009 as a firefighter. In 2010, he was promoted to Lieutenant, and in 2017, he was promoted to Battalion Chief. He currently is Battalion 1 on the C Shift.

Before his service at South Montgomery County Fire Department, Chief Pratt had a 31-year career with the Houston Fire Department.

He attended Sam Houston High School and Houston Community College, and he’s certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as a Driver-Operator, Fire Officer IV, Instructor II, Incident Safety Officer, and Wildland Firefighter. He’s also certified as an EMT Basic.

Chief Mike Covington began his fire service career as a volunteer fireman in 1995 with the North Montgomery County Fire Department. In 1998, he moved to become a volunteer with the Montgomery Fire Department, and in 2000, he became a full-time fireman with them. Chief Covington moved through the ranks of volunteer fireman, full-time Lieutenant, and Captain and Battalion Chief, and he was on the Apparatus Committee for 10 years.

In 2013, he moved to work full-time with the South Montgomery County Fire Department as a career Lieutenant. He has since been promoted to an A Shift Battalion Chief.

Chief Covington has worked part-time for North Montgomery County, Navasota, Lake Conroe, and Caney Creek Fire Departments. He held the rank of training officer in North Montgomery County, where he assisted in the development of the training program. Chief Covington holds Advanced Structure Firefighter, Intermediate Wildland Firefighter, Instructor II, Driver Operator, Fire Officer IV and Incident Safety Officer certifications through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.