The City of Urbandale is pleased to announce the promotion of Michael Cardwell to the position of Fire Chief/Emergency Preparedness Director. Cardwell has served as Urbandale’s Assistant Fire Chief since 2008 and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role. He assumed his new role on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.
Cardwell has been instrumental in implementing several successful emergency preparedness initiatives in Urbandale and the Des Moines Metropolitan Area. He helped lead the planning and construction of Urbandale’s FAST (Fire and Safety Training) facility, a cutting-edge site that advances training for emergency responders, and spearheaded regional partnerships including the Central Iowa Fire/EMS Testing Consortium and the Polk County Regional Mass Casualty Incident Plan.
“My life’s work is about ensuring our Fire Department is prepared to meet the needs of the community we serve. It is my goal to continue to guide and grow the quality personnel we have,” said Chief Cardwell. It is a privilege to become Chief and lead the department which I have dedicated myself to for the last fifteen years.”
Chief Cardwell holds a master’s degree in public administration from Upper Iowa University and has earned the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer designation. Throughout his career he’s championed the importance of training and education and lectured at numerous state and national conferences.
“With over 25 years of command-level experience in the firefighting profession, Chief Cardwell's extensive background and expertise have earned him recognition as a leader in the field,” said A.J. Johnson, City Manager. “His commitment to excellence and innovative approach to fire safety, training, and prevention make him a standout choice to lead the Urbandale Fire Department into the future.”
The City of Urbandale is confident that Chief Cardwell's leadership will further strengthen the fire department's capabilities and its ability to serve and protect the residents and businesses of Urbandale.
Background and Historical Information:
In 1935, Urbandale Mayor Robert Dixon appointed a committee to form an official City Volunteer Fire Department with 16 members. A groundbreaking for the City of Urbandale's first fire station took place in 1943. The cost of this monumental project would be $1,500. Volunteers of the department as well as the town did much of the work. In 1994, Urbandale was considered the largest city in Iowa with an all-volunteer Fire Department. Approximately five acres of land were purchased for the City's second fire station (now known as Fire Station 42), which was dedicated upon its completion in 1997. A year later in 1998, the City of Urbandale hired its first full-time Fire Chief, Jerry Holt, and the department quickly made strides professionalizing services and hiring full-time employees. As the City continued to grow westward into Dallas County, Urbandale built its third fire station (Fire Station 43) and began operations in 2020. After serving for more than 20 years, Chief Jerry Holt retired this past August and City Manager A.J. Johnson appointed Michael Cardwell to serve as Urbandale’s Fire Chief/Emergency Preparedness Director in October 2023.