Language Translation
  Close Menu

Executive Staff

Executive Staff

  • Executive Director - Joel Thacker
    Joel Thacker

    Gov. Eric J. Holcomb appointed Joel Thacker as executive director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security in June 2022. He served as Indiana State Fire Marshal from 2020 to 2022. He has completed 30 years in public service and served as fire chief with the Plainfield Fire Territory before his appointment to State Fire Marshal.

    A Center Grove graduate, born and raised in White River Township, Thacker started his path in public service as an explorer with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office. He became a volunteer with the White River Township Fire Department and spent 20 years with the organization.

    Thacker is a licensed paramedic and holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University and a master's degree in criminal justice and public safety from Indiana University. He is married to Julie, an elementary school principal, and they have two children, Elaina and Aidan.

    Email the Public Affairs Section

  • State Fire Marshal - Steve Jones
    Stephen Jones

    Gov. Eric J. Holcomb appointed Steve Jones as the Indiana state fire marshal in August 2022. He served previously as Brownsburg Fire Territory fire marshal.

    Jones began his career as a firefighter and EMT in 1984 in central Indiana. He became a career firefighter in Pike Township (Marion County) in 1989 and served as deputy fire marshal, safety and training officer, hazmat training coordinator, fire inspector, deputy chief of administration and division chief of prevention services. In 2013, he became fire marshal in Brownsburg, where he oversaw building code enforcement, fire investigation and public education and community risk reduction.

    Email the State Fire Marshal

  • Director of Emergency Management and Preparedness - Mary Moran
    Mary moran

    Mary Moran has extensive experience in disaster response and recovery, earned from more than 20 years with the agency. She joined the state as a program coordinator in mitigation for what was then the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) before IDHS was formed in 2005. She has served as the state hazard mitigation officer, mitigation branch chief and most recently as the state recovery officer. Moran has a master’s degree in emergency management from Indiana University.

    Email Mary Moran

  • State Building Commissioner - Alan Blunk
    Alan Blunk

    Gov. Eric J. Holcomb appointed Alan Blunk as Indiana State Building Commissioner in November 2023. He served as the IDHS Building Plan Review section chief for the previous six years.

    Blunk is certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). He is also a certified fire inspector, commercial building inspector and plans examiner by the International Code Council. He earned bachelor’s degrees in architecture and science in environmental design from Ball State University and since has served as an architect or project manager on 150 projects across 34 years in the industry.

    Email the Plan Review Section

  • Chief of Staff - Jonathan Whitham
    Jonathan Whitham

    An Indiana native and Hoosier for life, Jonathan Whitham began his public safety career in Bloomington, Ind., while attending Indiana University, where he received a degree in telecommunications, business and political science. He was a volunteer firefighter and EMT for the Bloomington Township Fire Department before moving to Indianapolis. There he joined the White River Township Fire Department while attending law school, and earned his juris doctor degree from the Indiana University School of Law in 2009.

    Whitham joined IDHS in 2014 as the general counsel and legislative director after practicing law in the private sector for five years.

    Email the Public Affairs Section

  • State EMS Director - Kraig Kinney
    Kraig Kinney

    Kraig Kinney has been with IDHS since 2017, having joined as a deputy general counsel for the Office of General Counsel. In March 2020, Kinney became the State EMS Director. He earned a bachelor's degree from DePauw University in 1992 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Indiana University McKinney School of Law Indianapolis in 1998. He was admitted to practice with the Indiana Supreme Court in 1999 and maintains active status to practice.

    Kinney began his EMS career as an EMT in 1991 while attending DePauw. He became a paramedic in 1994 and EMS primary instructor in 1996. He also served as executive director for Putnam County Operation Life from 2004 to 2014.

    Email the EMS Division