David Coble introduced as city of Tyler’s new fire chief

With his wife and youngest son nearby, David Coble, of Fort Worth, accepted the role of Tyler’s new fire chief.

“I’m honored to accept the position,” Coble said Wednesday morning before the Tyler City Council. “Additionally, I do accept the responsibility that is inherent to that job. … I want to say to the citizens of Tyler that we will continue the excellent service they are currently receiving and will look for innovation and improvements to the department as we can. To the firefighters on the front line, I want to thank them and know I value them. I want to develop and implement programs to develop successful leaders.”

Coble introduced his wife of 18 years, Sorronda, and his youngest son, Adolphus, 17, to the community. The couple has five children.

“I want to thank them,” he said. “It hasn’t been easy. … I do believe in work-life balance, and I want to ensure that will happen with this position as well.”

Coble will be sworn in Nov. 7 – his first day.

The former Fort Worth Fire Department executive assistant fire chief was named Tyler’s new fire chief after a five-month search.

At Wednesday’s Tyler City Council meeting, City Manager Ed Broussard introduced the 32-year fire veteran to the Council.

“David rose to the top very quickly,” Broussard said. “He has a sense about himself that appealed to myself and many people in the community and fire department. I was very pleased with the interaction, and the firefighters were overwhelmingly in favor of David Coble.”

Coble served as the acting fire chief in Fort Worth for most of 2015, and has managed two of the department’s three divisions, including the Educational and Support Services division, which includes the functions of training, EMS, supply, fire equipment services, fleet management, communications and emergency management.

He is a Fort Worth native, rising through the ranks of the department where he started as a firefighter in 1984, according to the city of Fort Worth. He earned an Associate of Applied Science in fire science administration from Weatherford College, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Dallas Baptist University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University–Commerce.

Tyler’s search for a new fire chief began in April, after the retirement of Chief Tim Johnson, a 35-year veteran of the city of Tyler Fire Department.

Keller-based Strategic Government Resources was contracted to conduct the nationwide search. Ultimately, 45 individuals applied for the position. That candidate pool was narrowed to eight semifinalists in early August, after a rigorous initial interview, which included community meetings and input from fire personnel.

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