About this episode

Battalion Chief Matt Shinkle discusses his 27 years of service and the evolution of the Greenwood Fire Department.

As part of the ongoing HME Ahrens-Fox collaborative project highlighting the people and apparatus driving the future of the fire service, National Fire Radio's Jeremy Donch sat down with Greenwood Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Shinkle to discuss leadership, growth, culture, and what it means to help shape a rapidly evolving department. With 27 years of service and the distinction of being Greenwood's longest-tenured career firefighter, Chief Shinkle offers a unique perspective on the department's transformation from a small, partially staffed organization into a thriving, fully career department serving one of Indiana's fastest-growing communities. Throughout the conversation, he reflects on the importance of company officers, maintaining connection to the firefighters on the floor, and ensuring the next generation understands the sacrifices and hard work that built the department they serve today. Chief Shinkle shares candid thoughts on the transition from company officer to battalion chief, the challenges of staying connected after promotion, and why strong leaders must continue advocating for the firefighters riding the backstep. As Greenwood continues to expand with…

People in this episode

Host: Jeremy Donch

Guest: Matt Shinkle

Topics covered

• leadership
• fire service
• department growth
• company culture
• firefighter training

Keywords

• fire service
• leadership
• growth
• firefighter
• company culture
• training

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Greenwood Fire Department

Places: Indiana

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