Mayor Jim Brainard has named Matt Hoffman the Fire Chief for the Carmel Clay Fire Department effective January 1, 2013. Hoffman will take over when the current Chief, Keith Smith, retires at the end of the year. Smith was appointed Fire Chief of the Carmel Clay Fire Department by Mayor Brainard in 2007 and recently expressed his desire to retire from the fire service.
Hoffman was selected by Mayor Brainard because the mayor felt Hoffman’s more than 20 years of service in the Carmel Fire Department prepared him well to lead Carmel’s professional force. Hoffman has most recently served as Assistant Chief of Operations for the Carmel Fire Department. “We have a very talented staff of leaders in our fire service from which I was able to determine our future direction and Matt has the right blend of talents for the challenges that lie ahead,” said Mayor Brainard.
Originally from Brownsburg, Hoffman holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with an emphasis in fire science. He began his career in fire service with the Wayne and Perry Township Fire Departments. He was hired by Carmel in 1989 as a firefighter and then was promoted to Sergeant in 1997 and received his Paramedic certification that same year. He was later promoted from Sergeant to Lieutenant in 2001, Lieutenant to Captain in 2002, Training Chief in 2008 and Assistant Chief of Operations in 2010.
“I am very pleased that Matt has accepted my appointment to Chief of Carmel’s Fire Department,” said Mayor Brainard. He continued by adding, “This is a professional force that is in the final stages of accreditation and continues to meet the needs of a dynamic and rapidly growing community. Matt has seen many changes in the demands and technology of fire service industry and he has a detailed understanding of what our department needs to continue to improve.”
Chief Smith retires from a career in the fire service that began in 1965 as a firefighter in the Indianapolis Fire Department where he was promoted through the ranks. He has held the positions of Lieutenant, Captain, Division Chief/Shift Commander and Assistant Fire Chief while in service to Indianapolis. From 2000-2002, Smith served as Battalion Chief and Director of Corporate Development. He was also chosen by the City of Indianapolis as full-time staff to the 2001 World Police and Fire Games Office. From 2002-2003, he served as Battalion Chief in the administration of the Department’s Corporate Partners Program. Smith also holds a degree from Indiana University and was selected for participation in the Executive Officer program at the National Fire Academy.