Battalion Chief Chris Gellinger has been promoted to the new rank of Noblesville Fire Department Deputy Chief.

The Noblesville Fire Department has made four promotions within its ranks since the start of 2017. Fire Chief Greg Wyant said the changes stem from the addition of a Deputy Chief position that was previously approved by the Noblesville Common Council during budget discussions in October. Battalion Chief Chris Gellinger was selected for the new position within NFD.

“After 31 years of 24-hour shift life, I look forward to the new and different challenges that the Deputy Chief position will bring. I have been directly involved with the operational side of NFD for my entire career. The opportunity to lead that aspect of NFD is something I very much look forward to,” he said.

Gellinger is a 31-year veteran of the fire department and has served the past 22 years as a battalion chief.

“I am very excited to welcome Deputy Chief Gellinger to his new role in our administration. He brings with him a wealth of experience. In his new role he will oversee all three crews, the training division, the dive team, tactical rescue team and all apparatus repairs,” Wyant said.

The promotion of Gellinger results in a chain of additional rank changes within the department that became effective on January 16. These promotions include:

Captain John Snethen to the rank of Battalion Chief of C Crew	Lieutenant John O’Neal to the rank of Captain	Firefighter Joel Minnich to the rank of Lieutenant

“One of the side benefits of a rank structure such as the one at NFD is that one promotion creates a domino effect of opportunities for some very capable and ready people,” said Wyant. “These three men have been preparing for these new positions for quite some time and will be excellent leaders of this department in their new roles.”