Mayor Whitfield Appoints Bob Wallace Fire Chief

Mayor Whitfield has appointed Bob Wallace as Fire Chief of the City of Lawrence Fire Department!

In his 26 year career as a first responder, Chief Wallace has fulfilled various roles including firefighter, paramedic, EMS Duty Officer, Union President, Lieutenant, Captain, Division Chief, and Deputy Chief.

Chief Wallace possesses multiple certifications, including Hazardous Materials, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services. He is a certified Primary Instructor (EMS), Firefighter Instructor, and holds certifications in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Additionally, he earned two associate degrees from Ivy Tech, specializing in Paramedic Science and Fire Science. 

Chief Wallace has pursued extensive training in Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) response and mitigation. This dedication is evident in his completion of advanced courses at renowned facilities such as the Center for Domestic Preparedness, Dugway, Security and Emergency Response Training Center, and Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center. Through these programs, Chief Wallace has acquired knowledge in diverse areas including incident command during WMD events, chemical and biological integrated response, radiological/nuclear incidents, and incident response to terrorist bombings to name a few.

In a recent milestone, Chief Wallace has been designated as a "Chief Fire Officer" (CFO) by the Commission on Professional Credentialing® (CPC®). This prestigious title, held by only 1833 CFOs worldwide, acknowledges Chief Wallace's excellence in experience, education, professional development, contributions to the field, association membership, community involvement, and technical competence. Achieving the CFO designation reflects Chief Wallace’s unwavering commitment to the fire and emergency services.

We welcome Bob Wallace to the position of Fire Chief with the City of Lawrence Fire Department!