Keeping it in the Family: Adam Howard selected as chief

The city has decided to keep it in the family, appointing Adam Howard as its new chief of emergency services.

Howard, who had been serving as acting chief following the retirement of the venerable Cameron Haller earlier this year, now joins a distinguished legacy of dedicated fire and emergency service professionals to lead the department.

“It is a great honor to have the opportunity to serve as Chief of Emergency Services,” said Howard. “However, I’m very aware that the title comes with a great deal of responsibility to the community and my internal team members.”

The man he succeeded indicated that Emergency Services is always abundant with challenges and that funding and community support are extremely important for success.

“I have 100 percent confidence in Adam and the team that he will assemble. He will do great things and accomplish many tasks,” Haller said. “He has an ability to completely research and resolve problems. And he commands an emergency scene with solid strategies and tactics.”

The Florida native’s decision to become a firefighter occurred at the tender age of eight, rationalizing that at that age, it was the equivalent of wanting to be a superhero. Although the career can at times ebb and flow, he doesn’t regret the choice he’s made.

“I’m extremely proud to be a firefighter/paramedic,” he said. “The career has provided a mix of extreme highs and lows. It’s amazing to serve as part of a team that saves a life. On the other end, it’s tough that we share and experience tragedies and losses throughout the community. However, I take peace in knowing that we are always there on the other end of 911 when someone’s day doesn’t go as planned.”

Howard moved with his family from Florida to Fairborn when he was 10. He graduated from Fairborn High School in 1999 and subsequently received an associate’s degree in Fire and EMS Administration from Sinclair Community College in 2004. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati in 2014 in Fire Safety and Engineering Technology and completed the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program at the National Fire Academy in 2019. The following year, Howard earned his master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Waldorf University.

“Adam was selected following a competitive selection process,” City Manager Eric Mack qualified. “Ultimately, he stood out because of his experience, professionalism, educational background, and understanding of Tipp City’s department and community. His time as Assistant Chief provided him with direct knowledge of our operations, personnel, and current challenges, while his broader fire service experience gives him the perspective needed to lead the department forward.”

Mack added that Howard is stepping into this role at an important time for the department as the city plans for future growth, staffing needs, funding considerations and the evolving expectations of the community.

“He understands those challenges and brings the right combination of experience and professionalism to help guide the department through them,” said Mack. “I am confident in his ability to lead the department, support our personnel, and continue providing high-quality emergency services to Tipp City and the areas we serve.”

The organization’s full roster is 55 employees and breaks down to 18 full-timers, 25 part-time staff, and 12 volunteers. The department currently has nine vacancies in its volunteer ranks.

Howard started as a Fire Explorer with the Fairborn Fire Department in 1997 while still in high school. His first job was as an emergency medical technician (EMT) with Enon/Mad River Township Emergency Medical Services in 1999. He subsequently worked part-time for Miami Township Fire Department in Montgomery County (now the Miami Valley Fire District). In early 2002, he was hired as a full-time firefighter/paramedic with Sidney Fire & Emergency Services. 

A year later, he accepted an offer to go back to his hometown and work in the same capacity with the Fairborn Fire Department (FFD). Howard worked for the FFD for more than 21 years before coming to Tipp City Emergency Services (TCES) as the Assistant Chief in 2024. Following Haller’s retirement at the end of February, Howard was named Interim Chief and eventually Chief on May 5. Howard first worked with Haller when both served on the Sidney Fire & Emergency Services Department in 2002-03.

“It’s wild how the world works and that our paths crossed again,” Howard said. “I think it’s pretty cool that we got to work together during my first year and his last year of our fire service careers. He was a wonderful mentor during both of those experiences. Cameron has high expectations and a bigger heart. He pushed everyone to the next level, but what people will always remember most is how much he genuinely cared about each and every one of his team members.”

Haller was as equally complimentary when articulating about his successor.

“Adam has prepared himself personally and professionally to excel in life and as our Fire & Emergency Services Chief for years to come,” he said. “He takes ownership of his work and provides service to both internal and external customers. He is a wonderful, fun-loving and creative man, son, husband and father of four.” 

What Howard most looks forward to is connecting with community leaders between the city, township, county, and mutual aid partner agencies to best position his organization for success. He explained that success in their business is measured by quick responses, delivering high-quality services on location, and reducing risk throughout the community.

Although no day is “typical,” Howard envisions the dominant part of his working day as being centered around communications; emails, face-to-face interactions, phone calls, text messages and meetings. He also manages a $3.8M budget, so time is spent requesting purchase orders and processing invoices. Frequent training is conducted to maintain operational readiness. Moreover, he reviews incident reports and tracks performance data, prepares reports for city and township leadership, and tracks the progress of various projects or ongoing programs.

Howard married a 2001 Tipp City High School graduate, Cassie Potts, and together they have four children, Penn, Tate, Pace, and Cruz, and of course a Dalmatian named Sydney. When not helping to ensure that the community’s citizens remain safe, he enjoys traveling and spending time with friends. Additionally, he tends to a vegetable garden in the summer and enjoys drag racing and custom vehicles. At one time, he and his brother operated an automotive upholstery shop in New Carlisle called No Joke Upholstery.

Although he’s only been in Tipp City for a short period of time, Howard indicated it already feels like home.

“It is an absolute honor to serve this community,” he said. “Tipp City Emergency Services has a rich history and strong growth momentum. I’m not looking to implement any drastic changes. I’m looking to fine tune and keep the positive progress going. I am seeking opportunities for the organization to engage more in upstream risk reduction strategies. Our current model is mostly reactive by responding to emergencies after they occur.” 

INFO BOX

A Brief History of the Tipp City Fire and Emergency Services Department:

In 1872, Tipp City’s first bucket brigade originated as a prelude to a dedicated fire department and consisted of fifty leather buckets, six hooks and ladders and six fire extinguishers. Two years later, after several disastrous fires, a fully organized department was formed, equipment purchased and plans for an engine house were made for the old city building at Third and Main Streets. Charles Trupp was appointed the newly-formed department’s first Fire Chief. 

City Council adopted the city’s first Fire Code in 1954, covering conditions hazardous to life and property from fire and explosion. A new fire station was built in 1955 on the west side of the railroad tracks to prevent trains from stopping fire trucks from reaching fires on the west side of the city. In 1958, a new fire house was built behind the former city building on North Third Street.

Tipp City Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was organized in April 1975. Chief Lowell Hampton served as the first EMS Chief along with two ambulances and a twenty-member all-male and volunteer roster. Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home housed the first ambulance service for the community prior to 1975. The first part-time employee was hired in 1999 and the last volunteer responder retired in 2020. 

The city’s emergency services continued to operate as two separate and distinct departments until March of 2019, when the city council decided to hire a Chief of Emergency Services. The department is now a combination staffed department which includes volunteer, part-time, and full-time assistant chief and chief. EMS has witnessed a dramatic increase in incident count since 2010, while fire incidents have remained more consistent over the same time period. EMS incidents account for nearly 80% of the department's total call volume.