Burnet County emergency management coordinator resigns; interim appointed
Burnet County Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Marchio officially resigned from his position, with his last day on the job scheduled for June 12. Marchio accepted a role with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, bringing an end to an eventful three and a half years on the job. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Burnet County Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Marchio submitted his resignation on May 29, stating that he had accepted a position with another agency. An interim coordinator was appointed to serve until a permanent replacement can be found to oversee and organize the county’s crisis management.
The Burnet County Commissioners Court accepted Marchio’s resignation during its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 9. His official last day of work will be on June 12, before he takes on a new role with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“While it has been both a pleasure and an honor to serve the residents of Burnet County, that time has come to an end,” Marchio wrote in his resignation letter. “I will be moving on to a position that is better, firstly, for my family and will help advance and enrich my knowledge and career.”
The county’s emergency management office is responsible for organizing local, state, and federal resources to respond to disasters, crises, and emergencies, while also establishing emergency response policies and serving as a liaison to other emergency response agencies, like the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
Marchio has been with Burnet County since January 2023, when he took over for long-time emergency management coordinator Jim Barho. While only serving for just over three years, Marchio led the county through several major disasters and events, including the July Fourth flooding of 2025, solar eclipse preparations in 2024, an extreme wildfire season in the summer of 2023, a severe tornado incident in 2025, and more.
What’s next?
The Commissioners Court also approved the appointment of an interim emergency management coordinator on Tuesday, Edward Hashbarger, who will hold the role until a permanent coordinator is hired.
Hashbarger has been a volunteer with the Burnet County Office of Emergency Management since January of this year, working alongside Marchio and undergoing necessary trainings to contribute more to the department.
According to Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson, Hashbarger will have to compete with all other applicants like normal for the full-time job. He told the court that five applicants had already applied for the position and he expects the hiring process to take about a month.