Adam Thiel

Fire Chief, Alexandria, Virginia

Adam Thiel has served with distinction in four states—Maryland, North Carolina, Arizona and Virginia—as a rescue SCUBA diver, structural/wildland fire fighter, technical rescuer, paramedic, hazardous materials team leader, company officer, incident commander and chief officer. He is currently the Fire Chief for the City of Alexandria, Virginia.

Adam has directly participated in response/recovery efforts for several major disasters including the 9/11 tragedy, Hurricane Gustav, and Hurricane Isabel.

In 2002, Adam was appointed by Governor Mark Warner to lead the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) through a critical post-9/11 transition and state fiscal crisis. As VDFP’s Executive Director, Adam modernized systems, added capacity, and enhanced capabilities by engaging employees and stakeholders statewide in charting the agency’s course.

For the past decade, Adam has provided strategy, risk management, and leadership consulting/expertise to international organizations, non-profits, government agencies at all levels, educational institutions, and private firms. Adam has authored more than 20 publications; presented at more than 30 conferences in multiple states/countries; and teaches graduate-level courses at several colleges/universities. Adam currently serves as chair of the National Fire Protection Association Technical Committee on Emergency Services Organization Risk Management and is a member of the National Fire Academy Board of Visitors.

Adam earned undergraduate degrees in history and fire science from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and University of Maryland University College. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from George Mason University and is finishing his doctoral degree in public administration at Arizona State University. In addition to completing the Virginia Executive Institute and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government, Adam is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), designated Chief Fire Officer (CFO), and Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE).