Crime & Safety

Troy's Chief Bill Nelson Named Michigan Fire Chief of the Year

Chief Nelson has been with the Troy Fire Department since 1975 and has served as Troy Fire Chief since 1994.

The following information was supplied by the City of Troy.

At the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs (MAFC) Summer Leadership Conference on Aug. 23, Troy Fire Chief Bill Nelson was recognized as the Michigan Fire Chief of the Year based on his many contributions and accomplishments to the fire service during his career. 

The Executive Board of the Oakland County Fire Mutual Aid Association strongly endorsed Chief Nelson, who is an extremely active member of their mutual aid organization.

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He has been a dedicated fire service leader for many years and has been active in many initiatives, including:

  • Spearheading the development, rollout and troubleshooting of the new county-wide open sky radio system
  • A founding member of the Oakland County FEMA Type III IMT (Incident Management Team)
  • A founding member of the Oakland County Fire Mutual Aid Association (OCFMAA)
  • A founding member of Michigan MABAS
  • Writing grants that have benefited the fire service far beyond the City of Troy
  • A big supporter of Oakland County special teams operations including the Tech Rescue Team, Hazardous Materials Technicians Team, IMT Team, and the special Communications Unit Team. 

Chief Nelson has developed an Oakland County mobile communications team that is unparalleled in the region. This team has the equipment and ability to set up emergency radio, telephone and internet communication almost anywhere, anytime.

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He has been a valuable supporter of regional and statewide fire service emergency infrastructure for years, and he has accomplished much without fanfare.

“These are just some of the many reasons why we strongly support Bill Nelson to be honored as Michigan’s Fire Chief of the Year,” said Anthony Maltese, president of the Oakland County Fire Mutual Aid Association.

Chief Nelson was appointed Troy Fire Chief in January 1994. In June 1989, he became Troy’s Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshall in October 1975. Chief Nelson has a Bachelor of Science degree from Madonna University and completed the Executive Fire Officer from the National Fire Academy in January 1993.


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