Carmel Fire Chief Joel Thacker is stepping down next month to return to state government, where he'll direct a newly created cybersecurity office. His last day leading the department is Friday, October 23, and the city has already tapped an interim replacement while it searches for someone to fill the role permanently.
Thacker is heading back to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to serve as director of its newly established Office of Cybersecurity, according to WTHR. The office was established to centralize cyber threat intelligence and risk management across state agencies, local municipalities and critical infrastructure. It's familiar territory for Thacker, who served as IDHS executive director after then-Governor Eric Holcomb appointed him to that post in 2022, per WISH-TV.
Lucas Ray, currently Carmel's Deputy Chief of Finance and Administration, will serve as interim fire chief while the city runs its search. Ray manages budget allocations, personnel recruitment and promotion frameworks, and oversees department logistics, according to the City of Carmel. Interested candidates for the permanent chief position can apply through the city's recruitment link, per WISH-TV.
A Brief but Eventful Tenure
Thacker became Carmel Fire Chief in September 2024, and Mayor Sue Finkam credited him with dedication and leadership to the department and community, according to WISH-TV. Finkam also expressed gratitude for his role in securing equipment and technology upgrades and in leading flood recovery responses. During his tenure, the department added a fifth ambulance, upgraded equipment, introduced new technology and launched a lateral hiring process, per the same report.
The most dramatic test of Thacker's leadership came in August, when the White River experienced historic flooding. The event prompted multi-agency sandbagging alongside the Indiana National Guard, according to the City of Carmel. Emergency crews formed a temporary dam along Hazel Dell Parkway as part of the response, which Thacker led through the department's emergency operations center, WISH-TV reported.
Capital Projects and Staffing Pressures Ahead
Thacker also backed a $5 million proposal, unveiled in July, to convert an underutilized water distribution facility into a seventh fire station aimed at improving response times on Carmel's expanding northwest side. Hoodline previously reported that retrofitting the existing building saved an estimated $7 million to $9 million compared with building a new standalone station.
Whoever takes over the department permanently will inherit both that capital project and responsibility for staffing the department.
Thacker's Career
Thacker's public safety career included service as Indiana State Fire Marshal and IDHS executive director before he arrived in Carmel, according to the State of Indiana. His next move after leaving Carmel had not been announced at the time of WISH-TV's report, though his new state role has since come to light.
