Ernest Malone
Fire Chief, Indianapolis Fire Department (Indiana)
Chief Malone joined the Indianapolis Fire Department in 1986. He has been promoted through competitive promotion processes, and has held every Merit Rank in the department up to and including Battalion Chief. Chief Malone has served as a Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain and Battalion Chief in the Operations/Suppression division of the department. His administrative assignments include, Assistant Director of Training, Fire Marshal, Division Chief of Executive Services and Assistant Chief of Fire.
His Current responsibilities as the Chief of Fire include; overall command and responsibility for all functions of the department. Additional duties include but are not limited to; the development of IFD policy relating to suppression operations, health and safety, training, special operations and emergency medical services. Additionally, the Chief of Fire has direct supervision of the Assistant Chief and Deputy Chiefs assigned to oversee the major functional bureaus of the department such as; Administration, Operations, Logistics, Community Risk Reduction, or other divisions/sections that may be initiated at the direction of the Chief of Fire. Chief Malone meets with other executive staff personnel to outline strategic planning initiatives which seek to identify the goals and objectives designed to position the department for a productive and sustainable future.
Chief Malone holds an Associate Degree in Fire Science, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, and a Master’s Degree in Management. Additionally, Chief Malone has completed a twelve-month program offered by Indiana University’s Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Development and was awarded the designation as a Hoosier Fellow in 2011. Chief Malone is a graduate of the National Fire Academy completing 17 different onsite training courses through the United States Fire Administration.
Additionally, he has achieved the highly regarded and prestigious certification as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence becoming the first member of the Indianapolis Fire Department to achieve this designation. Chief Malone holds many certifications, including Fire Officer IV, Instructor II/III, NFPA Incident Safety Officer, Hazmat Technician, Basic Emergency Rescue Technician (BERT), Master Scuba Diver, Rope Rescue Technician IV, Fire Inspector I/II, Fire Investigator I, NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, & 800 and many more. He serves as a certified Incident Commander on the Region Five All Hazards Incident Management Team.