The Fire Chief serves the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Austin Fire Department (AFD), and is appointed by the City Manager and approved by the City Council. His/her role, in addition to overseeing the operations of the entire department, includes representing AFD management on the day-to-day issues, business practices, and process of the AFD. The department’s three assistant chiefs are appointed by the Fire Chief and the entire Executive Team is housed at AFD Headquarters (4201 Ed Bluestein).

Acting Fire Chief Jim Evans
Since joining the Austin Fire Department in 1977, Assistant Chief Jim Evans has steadily worked his way through the ranks, spending nearly all of his time in Operations. His progress includes making driver in 1980, lieutenant in 1984, captain in 1988, and battalion chief in 1991. He has served as Assistant Chief since 1996 and Chief of Staff since 2002. Currently, Chief Evans is serving as the Acting Fire Chief.

His experience includes working on the Hazardous Materials (HazMat) and Water Rescue Teams. He also served as AFD’s Safety Officer for four years after being promoted to Battalion Chief, where his focus was accountability and firefighter wellness/fitness issues.

A native of San Antonio, Chief Evans has also served as an instructor in the Fire Science program at Austin Community College, teaching such topics as firefighting strategies and tactics, firefighter safety, and HazMat technician requirements.

Assistant Chief George Blackmore
Special Operations and Homeland Security Division
Safety Office
Aircraft Fire and Rescue
Communications


Currently serving as the Assistant Chief of Special Operations and Homeland Security, George Blackmore has steadily risen through the ranks of the Austin Fire Department during his 25-year career. Joining the department in 1980 as a firefighter, he was promoted to lieutenant in 1989, captain in 1991, and battalion chief in 1995. In 1996, Chief Blackmore was appointed Safety Officer and three years later, became Division Chief of Operations. Among his more interesting roles includes a stint as head of AFD’s Terrorism Task Force, AFD’s Special Operations Division, and his current membership on the Capital Area Council of Government’s (CAPCOG) Homeland Security Task Force.

A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelors of arts degree in Germanic Languages, Chief Blackmore is also a graduate of the Austin Police Department’s West Point Leadership Academy and numerous National Fire Academy (NFA) courses including the Fire Academy Fire Service Communications Course, Command and Control of Fire Department Operations at Natural and Manmade Disasters Course, and the Hazardous Materials Site Operations Practices Course. He is a certified Texas Master Firefighter, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Officer II, Instructor III, and Aircraft Firefighter, and a Texas Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal Greg Keyes
Prevention: Inspections and Engineering (One Stop Shop)
Arson Investigations


Assistant Chief Greg Keyes has served the Austin Fire Department for 27 years. Chief Keyes began his career in 1980, assigned to Station 12. He currently serves as the City of Austin Fire Marshal overseeing Emergency Prevention, Arson Investigations, and Engineering Services. Chief Keyes promoted to Fire Specialist in 1984, Lieutenant in 1987, Captain in 1990, and Battalion Chief in 1993. He has held various assigments including serving in Fire Prevention as a Lieutenant and Captain, and in Combat Operations as a Lieutenant, Captain, and Battalion Chief. Chief Keyes also served as the Department's Medical Operations Chief.

Chief Keyes holds an associate's degree in Fire Protection Technology. Chief Keyes has attended the National Fire Academy's Management of Fire Prevention Programs and Management of Emergency Medical Services.

Acting Assistant Chief Ken Crooks

Ken Crooks is a 19-year veteran of the Austin Fire Department. Currently the Acting Assistant Chief over Operations, Chief Crooks also has experience in Fire Prevention and Communications.

Chief Crooks holds an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science from Austin Community College and also attended the University of Texas. Additionally, he is a certified Inspector, Instructor, Master Firefighter, and Emergency Medical Technician. He has received specialized training to serve as an Incident Management Technician for emergencies throughout the state.

Chief Crooks currently serves as the Chairperson for the Fire Station Design Workgroup.

Acting Assistant Chief Dawn Clopton

Since joining the Austin Fire Department more than 23 years ago, Acting Assistant Chief Dawn Clopton has steadily risen through the ranks. She was promoted to Fire Specialist in 1988, Lieutenant in 1993 and to Captain in 2006. One of the longest-serving female uniformed members in the department, Chief Clopton is certified as a Structural Firefighter, Fire Instructor II, Fire Inspector, Fire Officer I, and Emergency Medical Technician. She is also certified at the Technician level for Rope Rescue, Confined Space, Structural Collapse, and Swift Water Rescue.

In her role as Acting Assistant Chief, Chief Clopton oversees AFD’s Education Services, Community Outreach, and Wellness sections.

Chief Clopton is currently a member of the Leadership Council for the Austin Women Firefighters. In this role, she serves on the Department’s Diversity Council and the Austin Firefighters’ Association/Local 975’s Human Relations Committee. She also served two terms as a Vice President on Local 975’s Executive Board.

As a member of Texas Taskforce 1, Chief Clopton responded to the World Trade Center after 9/11, New Orleans flooding after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the Texas A&M bonfire collapse.

Chief Clopton is a two-time recipient of the Austin Fire Department’s Medal of Merit, has received various AFD Certificates of Commendation, and been recognized with the Austin Police Department’s Certificate of Recognition.

Division Chief/A Shift Duke Turpin

Chief Turpin serves the public and the A Shift Operations personnel as Shift Commander. He joined the department in 1984 as a 28-year-old Firefighter at Fire Station 9 in Hyde Park. He promoted to Fire Specialist in 1990 driving Ladder 3B and to Lieutenant in 1993, and was assigned to the Fire Prevention Division for two years. He promoted to Battalion Chief in 1998 after working as a Lieutenant at Fire Station 9B and as a Captain on Ladder 3C. His first Battalion Chief assignment was as the Department’s Professional Standards Officer, a position he held for three years. Chief Turpin then worked four years as an Operations Battalion Chief managing the downtown district, Battalion 1, on the B Shift. He promoted to Division Chief in May 2005 and is currently assigned as the A Shift Commander.

Chief Turpin attends seminars and training on Incident Management to improve his abilities as an incident scene commander and to reinforce the department’s values in which citizen and firefighter safety is paramount. He currently holds Inspector, Instructor, and Master Firefighter certifications.

Division Chief/B Shift Phil Jack

A 30-year veteran of the Austin Fire Department, Phil Jack has served in many roles during his tenure. Currently the Division Chief of the B shift—a job he has held for almost 14 years—Chief Jack also has experience as a Fire/Arson Investigator; Safety Officer; Battalion Chief; Division Chief in charge of communications; and Shift Commander. In addition to his current role, he is also serving as the Acting Fire Marshal for the City of Austin.

Chief Jack holds an associate’s degree in Fire Science from Austin Community College and also attended Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State University). Additionally, he is a certified Law Enforcement/Peace Officer, Hazardous Materials Technician, Fire Investigator, Master Firefighter, and Emergency Medical Technician. Chief Jack is also a graduate of the Internal Revenue Service’s Financial Fraud Investigation program.

His many accomplishments include instituting department-wide immunizations, physicals for those who deal with hazardous materials, and overseeing the conversion to fire-resistant uniforms and Nomex® hoods.

Acting Division Chief/C Shift Mike Frick

Acting Division Chief/Special Projects Harry Evans

Division Chief/Homeland Defense David Bailey

David Bailey is currently enjoying his 23rd year with the Austin Fire Department and is assigned to the Division of Homeland Security and Special Operations. Included in the specialties he supervises are Hazardous Materials Response, High-angle Rope Rescue, Water Rescue, Cave/Confined Space Rescues, and Large-Event Planning such as political rallies and city-wide celebrations. Chief Bailey also coordinates the joint City of Austin response to incidents involving potential Weapons of Mass Destruction and terrorist activity.

During his career, Chief Bailey has served in the Operations, Special Operations, Educational Services, Fire Prevention, Public Education, and Fire Investigations divisions. Chief Bailey has shared his Austin experience on a national level as an instructor for FEMA and is currently involved in the development of the Texas state-wide Incident Management Teams. He holds an associate's degree in Fire Science and is working on a Bachelor’s in Public Safety Management.

Chief Administrative Officer Amy Singer

Amy started with the City of Austin in 1978, straight out of college. She began her career at the Parks and Recreation Department, working in the areas of Recreation, Arts, and Management. She moved to the City Manager’s Office in 1991 as Executive Assistant to the Assistant City Manager. Amy has been at the Fire Department since 1993 and currently oversees Support Services--including Human Resources, Payroll, Finance/Budget, Purchasing, Research and Planning, Cadet Hiring, Facilities, and AFD's Warehouse.

Public Information and Marketing Manager Michelle DeCrane

With more than 16 years of public relations and communications experience, Michelle DeCrane is well-suited to her position as public information and marketing manager for the Austin Fire Department. In this role, she serves as the department’s Public Information Officer, handling all aspects of communications and media relations. She has worked in marketing and communications for some of the country’s largest corporations, including Lockheed Missiles and Space; Holt, Rinehart, and Winston; and Durham Transportation. Her career also includes work in the non-profit sector—for the Long Center for the Performing Arts as Director of Marketing and Public Relations—and publishing, with TRIBEZA magazine, where she most recently served as Vice President of Marketing.

Michelle is an award-winning writer, with both a Bronze Quill and Best of Austin award from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), and a Best of Texas award from the Texas Public Relations Association (TPRA). She holds a bachelor of science in journalism (specialty in public relations) from Texas A&M University and is also a certified crisis manager.

Michelle is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America and the Texas Public Relations Association (where she served on the Board of Directors as Membership Chairman). In addition, she has served on the Public Relations Committee for Special Olympics Texas and is a featured speaker for several entities, including the University of Texas’s marketing department.