Homeland security department names new director
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Governor Eric Holcomb has selected Joel Thacker as the new executive director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Thacker, who currently serves as Indiana State Fire Marshal, succeeds Stephen Cox, who is retiring from public service.
Thacker has been state fire marshal and director of the Fire and Building Safety Division since 2020. He previously served as a firefighter for 30 years, most recently as fire chief with the Plainfield Fire Territory.
“Joel Thacker brings incredible experience from local and state government service to the Department of Homeland Security,” said Holcomb. “His help in leading the department in recent years will result in a smooth transition and continued service for Hoosiers.”
Cox was appointed executive director in 2020, after serving as the state fire marshal. He previously worked for the South Bend Fire Department for 26 years and served in the U.S. Army as a combat medic.
“I am forever grateful to Director Cox’s leadership of IDHS, especially during the pandemic,” Holcomb said. “His leadership was calm, thoughtful and deliberate, and the agency has distributed an unprecedented amount of protective equipment and supported emergency management services like never before while continuing important initiatives around public safety training and preparedness.”
During his time with the department, the IDHS says Cox helped organize the state response during the COVID-19 pandemic, including operating the State Emergency Operations Center. Cox also worked on improvements to the state’s cybersecurity readiness and resiliency, and brought Indiana into the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Agreement state program.
Thacker will officially begin his new role on June 27.