Texas Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
Born and raised in Edinburg, South Texas College graduate Ubaldo Perez has dedicated more than 30 years to serving his community through the fire service.
Now, after earning his Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science, the Edinburg Fire Department training chief hopes to inspire others to pursue lifelong learning while continuing to mentor the next generation of firefighters.
“No matter how long you’ve been in the fire service, you need to continually make yourself better,” Perez said. “Education should never stop, because once you earn a degree, nobody can ever take it away from you.”
At only 10 years old, Perez already knew he wanted to become a firefighter, inspired by the fire trucks and sirens he would see racing through his hometown of Edinburg.
“I remember hearing the sirens down the street,” Perez said. “The lights and sirens got me excited. I started volunteering as soon as I was of age.”
At 18, Perez joined the Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department before officially beginning his professional career with the McAllen Fire Department as a dispatcher. He later became a firefighter with McAllen while continuing to volunteer and serve in his hometown.
“When people need help, often during some of the worst moments of their lives, they count on us,” Perez said. “The work we do can sometimes put our lives in danger, but when the call comes in, your focus is on your training and helping the people who need you most.”
For Perez, that emphasis on preparation has become the foundation of his career.
For the past 26 years, he has served the Edinburg Fire Department as training chief, overseeing firefighter training, certification requirements and mentoring young firefighters as they begin their careers in the fire service.
That same passion for training and self-improvement eventually motivated Perez to return to the classroom, enrolling in STC’s Fire Science program in 2024.
For two years, the father of three balanced full-time leadership in the fire service with family life and college coursework before earning his associate degree.
“Everybody around me was continuing their education, including firefighters I helped train,” Perez said. “At some point, I realized I needed to lead by example, so at 52 years old, after 36 years in the fire service, I went back to school. Now that I’ve done it myself, hopefully it motivates others to realize it’s possible, even if you start later in life.”
Perez said returning to school not only strengthened his knowledge but also reminded him of the value education brings to firefighters at every stage of their careers.
“The quality of professors we had was incredible,” Perez said. “They challenged us, and that’s what I wanted. It was an excellent program.”
He added that earning a bachelor’s degree is now one of his next goals, not only to continue growing professionally, but also to inspire others, especially his three sons.
For now, though, he plans to continue serving the community that inspired his career decades ago while mentoring future generations of firefighters.
During STC’s most recent Fire Academy completion ceremony, Perez served as keynote speaker, encouraging cadets and fellow graduates to take pride in joining the fire service and to continue learning throughout their careers.
“You are now representing the fire service, not just your department, not just the Rio Grande Valley, but anywhere you go,” Perez told graduates. “That’s a great responsibility and I’m hoping that’s a responsibility you’re ready to take on.”
Drawing from his own experience and educational journey, Perez encouraged the graduates to trust in education and not to delay their goals.
“You may feel like you’re already good at what you do and maybe you are,” Perez said. “But continuing your education will always make you even better.”
For more information on STC’s Fire Science program, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/fire-science/ or call 956-872-6259.
