Alamogordo Leadership Delegation Shines in Santa Fe: Advocacy, Collaboration, and Dispatcher Recognition Highlight Busy Day

Alamogordo, New Mexico – A delegation of key leaders from the City of Alamogordo, led by Mayor Sharon McDonald, Alamogordo City Commissioner Warren Robinson, and Acting City Manager Dr. Stephanie Hernandez, traveled to Santa Fe this week for a productive series of engagements with county officials, state officials and legislative representatives. The visit underscored the city’s commitment to building strong partnerships at the state level while celebrating a significant milestone for its emergency communications team.

The group also included DC Lashley, Chief Ramirez, Hilton Chapman (Manager of the Alamogordo Communications Center – ACOMM), Maggie McColley, Jasmine Luna, Brittany Villa, Commissioner Warren Robinson, Mayor Sharon McDonald, Lt. McColley, and Police Chief Kunihiro

(The group was photographed left to right in that approximate order during the event.) The trip focused on advocacy for local priorities and recognition of public safety personnel.

Standout Advocacy from Mayor Sharon McDonald

Mayor Sharon McDonald emerged as a standout figure during the visit. At a Thursday meet-and-greet event—predominantly attended by Republicans—she engaged seamlessly in a bipartisan approach with participants, confidently articulating Alamogordo’s needs. She thoughtfully discussed critical issues such as infrastructure and public safety, while strongly advocating for collaborative efforts with Otero County Commission Chair Marquardt on joint initiatives, including the establishment of a clear Code Blue protocol to address extreme weather emergencies.

Friday kicked off with a breakfast meeting with state legislators. When invited to speak, Mayor McDonald shared her motivations for seeking office and outlined her vision and platform for Alamogordo. She highlighted progress on long-standing challenges, noting that the city has recently completed 11 projects with 10 more underway or soon to go to bid. Emphasizing her push for continued infrastructure investment across the community, she described the past 30 days as “fast and furious but necessary” to maintain momentum and keep Alamogordo moving forward.

Celebration at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy

The delegation’s second major stop was a special celebration at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy in Santa Fe, honoring the city’s dispatchers. The event recognized the first group of Alamogordo telecommunicators to graduate from the academy’s Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) program. These graduates will staff the new Alamogordo Communications Center (ACOMM), marking a key step in bringing dispatch services back in-house for improved local control and response times.

A highlight was the special recognition given to Maggie McColley, who graduated as class valedictorian. In her remarks, McColley spoke candidly about the emotional demands and challenges of the dispatching profession, describing it not merely as a job but as a true calling—one that requires composure, empathy, and quick thinking under pressure.

The group expressed immense pride in supporting this inaugural cohort, whose certification strengthens emergency services for Alamogordo residents.

A Day of Collaboration and Progress

The visit wrapped up with an evening farewell reception alongside state legislators, capping a full day dedicated to collaboration, public service, and advancing Alamogordo’s priorities again reemphasized by city leadership.

This trip reflects the city of Alamogordo’s proactive, visible leadership emphasizing collaboration and positivity by Mayor Sharon McDonald, Acting City Manager Dr. Stephanie Hernandez and Commissioner Warren Robinson. This collaborative approach steeped in positivity with a mission to secure state support for infrastructure, safety initiatives, and operational improvements is critical for long term sustainability. As Alamogordo continues to grow and modernize—evidenced by recent project completions and the launch of ACOMM—strong relationships with Santa Fe remain essential.

For more updates on city initiatives, visit AlamogordoTownNews.org or follow local coverage on KALHRadio.org

Photos from the event show the delegation proudly gathered in front of a large display featuring the graduating dispatchers at their academy ceremony, symbolizing community pride and forward momentum. (Note: The provided image captures the group with the celebratory backdrop honoring the dispatchers’ achievement.) Other photos are from the city of Alamogordo of the graduating local dispatch center employees…

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