The Allen County Board of Commissioners appointed Chris Fleischer as the new Director of Emergency Management on September 15, 2026.
Allen County Board of Commissioners news release:
Allen County Board of Commissioners Appoints Chris Fleischer as Director of Emergency Management
Allen County, Indiana (September 21, 2026) – The Allen County Board of Commissioners appointed Chris Fleischer as the new Director of Emergency Management on September 15, 2026.
The appointment represents a promotion for Fleischer, who has been the Planning Coordinator for the Allen County Office of Emergency Management, formerly Allen County Homeland Security, since 2019. In that role, he authored and maintained the county’s core emergency plans: the Emergency Operations Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, and continuity plans; updated the county’s Emergency Operations Center and built its GIS-based damage assessment capability following the June 2022 derecho. He secured and administered state and federal preparedness grants, contributed to a FEMA public-alerting tool now used nationwide and continues to chair the countywide Drone Working Group. During his tenure, he served as Chairperson of the Allen County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and earned a Professional Emergency Manager Certificate from the State of Indiana.
Prior to Emergency Management, Fleischer worked in the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office for over two decades automating case management systems, digitizing criminal justice workflows, and liaising between local courts and state legislative initiatives. With a Master’s Degree in Public Management and Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice & Political Science, Fleischer has the credentials and public sector experience, combined with his background in emergency management, technology, criminal justice, and intergovernmental coordination, to position him to lead an essential county department with responsibilities that directly impact public safety and community preparedness.
In a joint statement, the commissioners said, “We have confidence that Chris is the right person to lead the Allen County Office of Emergency Management. His experience within the department, his understanding of emergency preparedness and his established relationships with our public safety partners will allow him to step into this role with a strong understanding of the work already underway.”
Fleischer shared, “As a lifelong resident of Allen County, I’m honored by the trust the commissioners and our public safety community have placed in me. I look forward to serving and helping make Allen County a prepared and resilient community, building on a strong foundation alongside trusted partners across the county to keep advancing preparedness, coordination, and public safety.”
As Director, Fleischer will oversee the Allen County Office of Emergency Management’s efforts to strengthen preparedness, coordination, and response across the county. Working in partnership with local municipalities, law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies, healthcare providers, county departments, and other community stakeholders, he will help ensure Allen County is prepared to respond effectively to emergencies and disasters and protect the safety and well-being of its residents.
Related Images:
