Jessica Hughes

Jessica Hughes is an experienced communications and public administration professional with about 10 years in local government. Currently serving as Fire Administration Manager at the City of Asheville Fire Department, she oversees all administration functions for the department. This includes managing a budget exceeding $4 million, approximately $1 million in grants, supporting strategic initiatives, and leading the strategic communication efforts as the department's lead public information officer. She joined the fire department in November of last year after working in the City of Asheville's Communication and Public Engagement Department, where she supported emergency operations and public engagement following Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Prior to her time with the City of Asheville, she worked in Buncombe County's Ag and Land Resources Department, beginning her government career as an administrative assistant. Her background is in business law, marketing, and communications, and she has a passion for process improvement and solving operational challenges in public service.