Fire Chief Brad Brown
Phone
616-456-3900
Email
bbrown@grcity.us
Biography
Dr. Brad Brown was sworn in as Grand Rapids Fire Chief on May 1, 2023. He entered the fire service as a volunteer firefighter for the Guilford College Fire Department in Greensboro, NC in 1996 and served as a firefighter for Greensboro, NC from 1999 until he moved to Grand Rapids, MI in 2003.
Chief Brown has served in many roles in the GRFD including firefighter, Acting Equipment Operator, Acting Officer, Lieutenant-Planning, Captain-Planning, Assistant Chief-Administration, Deputy Chief-Support Services and fills in as the city’s Emergency Manager as needed.
Brown has earned an Associate’s Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Guilford Technical Community College, an Associate’s Degree in Fire Prevention and Investigation from Delta College, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a major in Fire Service Management from Northwood University, a Master’s degree in Executive Fire Leadership from Grand Canyon University, and a Doctorate in Education from Cornerstone University in Organizational Leadership and Development where his research focused on the implementation of strategic plans. Brown has also obtained his lean champion certification from Grand Rapids Community College, his Executive Fire Officer certification from the National Fire Academy, and holds the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.