As of Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Major Rūdolfs Āzens, formerly the Head of the State Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Development and International Cooperation Department, has been appointed Deputy Chief of the SFRS. He will oversee matters concerning SFRS personnel, strategic development, and international cooperation.
SFRS Deputy Chief R. Āzens emphasizes: “To effectively confront various security challenges, the service must be equipped not only with material and technical resources and well-developed infrastructure, but also with professional, cohesive, and motivated employees. By caring for our personnel's development, professional growth, well-being, and emotional resilience, we will receive loyal employees who, standing shoulder to shoulder, will not only successfully overcome crises and adapt to change, but also foster the service's long-term sustainability. That's why my main priority is for every employee to see their role in fulfilling the SFRS mission and to feel opportunities for their own development within the service.”
Keeping pace with the times, one of the new SFRS Deputy Chief's main operational priorities will be the digitalization of training to make acquiring new knowledge more accessible to personnel. The SFRS Deputy Chief's agenda will also include matters of the service's international cooperation and the implementation of various European Union fund projects to continue attracting additional resources and introducing innovations, while also providing employees with opportunities for new experiences, ideas, and growth.
R. Āzens has a higher education in geology, fire safety, and civil defense. He is currently continuing to further his knowledge by studying in the Internal Security Academy's Master's program "Management of Law Enforcement, Criminal Penalty Enforcement, and Rescue Services."
The new SFRS Deputy Chief began his service with the SFRS in 2011 in the Development and International Cooperation Department, becoming its head in 2021. He has many years of experience and knowledge in project implementation, including various European Union funding programs.
