The Aransas County Commissioners Court approved the deployment of Roman Cortez to a county fire position for a two-year term at a special July 2025 meeting in Rockport.

The court introduced Cortez with a summary of his background: he is a retired U.S. Army sergeant first class with 20 years of service, holds master peace officer and master detention certifications, and brings more than 35 years of experience as a certified peace officer. He served Aransas County 11 years and retired as a chief deputy; he volunteers with the Bolton Volunteer Fire Department and previously logged extensive volunteer hours with the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department.

Commissioners said the position carries a small stipend that had been budgeted in the prior year and that one of Cortez’s early tasks will be to update the job description and pursue required certifications. The court invited Cortez forward for photographs and offered congratulations on the appointment; meeting remarks referred to him as the county’s fire marshal on the record.

The transcript records a motion and a second to approve the deployment; the item moved forward and commissioners publicly congratulated Cortez. The meeting did not record additional details about the stipend amount or an official effective date for the appointment.