Mayor Dave Wood Named Indiana Fire and EMS Elected Official of the Year

Mayor Dave Wood Named Indiana Fire and EMS Elected Official of the Year

MISHAWAKA, Ind. (September 11, 2026) — Mayor Dave Wood was honored Friday evening as the 2026 Elected Official of the Year during the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association’s Indiana Fire and EMS Leadership Conference.

The statewide award recognizes an elected official who has worked alongside Indiana’s fire service to promote firefighter safety and well-being, strengthen emergency services, advocate for beneficial legislation, and make communities safer places to live and work.

Mishawaka Fire Chief Joshua Jester nominated Mayor Dave Wood for the honor, citing his longstanding commitment to public safety and to ensuring Mishawaka’s firefighters and police officers have the equipment, facilities, compensation, training and organizational support necessary to serve the community.

“Mayor Wood has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public safety and to the men and women who provide fire and emergency services to the City of Mishawaka,” Chief Jester wrote in his nomination. “His leadership reflects a consistent philosophy spanning many years: public safety matters, the people providing it matter, and communities must be willing to invest in both.”

During Mayor Wood’s administration, Mishawaka has replaced two aging fire stations with modern facilities designed around firefighter safety, health and operational needs. The City opened its new 25,000-square-foot Fire Station No. 2 in October 2024, providing modern apparatus bays, training space and improved accommodations for firefighters and emergency medical personnel. The City and Mishawaka Common Council are also advancing a joint Police and Fire Training Facility scheduled for completion in early 2027.

Mayor Wood has supported major apparatus and equipment investments, competitive compensation and benefits, and continued modernization of the Mishawaka Fire Department while respecting the traditions and history of the department.

His advocacy has also extended beyond Mishawaka through his leadership with Accelerate Indiana Municipalities. As AIM president, Mayor Wood advocated for protecting the local revenues and resources communities rely upon to recruit and retain firefighters, purchase apparatus, maintain public safety facilities, and provide dependable fire, EMS and law enforcement services.

“I am humbled by this recognition and deeply honored to receive this award,” Mayor Wood said. “Thank you to Chief Jester and the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association. This honor truly belongs to Mishawaka’s firefighters and emergency responders, who serve our community with courage, compassion and professionalism every day. My job is to support them, invest in their safety and make sure they have the tools and training they need to succeed. I am incredibly proud to stand beside them.”

Mayor Wood also credited the Mishawaka Common Council, fire department leadership, City employees and Mishawaka residents for supporting the community’s continued investment in public safety.

“Public safety has always been our most important responsibility,” Mayor Wood said. “This award reflects a team effort and a shared commitment to taking care of the people who take care of all of us.”

The Indiana Fire Chiefs Association represents and supports fire service leaders throughout Indiana through professional development, education, advocacy and cooperation among fire and emergency service organizations.

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