David Haboush
Fire Chief
City of Carmel
Carmel, IN USA
“I wanted to find purpose in my life and do something to make the world a better place.”
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
Was popular and active in High School. I got along with everyone and graduated. Started IUPUI and was going through the motions of college. Finally found something I was interested in and got focused.
Worked many part-time jobs while attending college and living at home with my parents. Worked retail, in a factory. The factory was heated in the summertime and air conditioned in the winter time.
Graduated college while still working in the factory. Worked third shift (midnights), got finished at work, went home and came back to work with my resume.
Hired by the same company to work as a sales representative for the company. I looked around... no one was happy. There was no team within the organization. I knew this was not the place for for me!
I wanted to have a higher purpose in my life. I wanted to do something meaningful and have an impact on people and make the world better off for me being a part of it. I applied for firefighting jobs.
I was hired by the Carmel Fire Dept. in January 1992. I was one of the first members who had a college education. A college graduate was something very rare in the fire service. Little did I know....
My college created many opportunities for my career advancement within the organization. Knowledge, skills, and circumstances I experienced in college allowed for my success in the Fire service.
I have been blessed throughout my career. I have moved upward and also back due to appointed positions within the org. I have learned much more when things were not easy. The fire service is GREAT!
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Fire Chief
I make other people in the organization successful.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Government
Medicine
Working with Others
Day to Day
We have 170 members in the organization. There are many “Chiefs” in the organization and we have a para-military structure. There are clear lines drawn defining the hierarchy as seen in the organizational chart. I report directly to the Mayor. I also communicate with the members of the City Council on matters of public safety, budget, personnel issues, long term planning of organization and matters of public opinion. My job is to remove barriers so members can reach their full potential at CFD.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Certification/License
Executive Fire Officer program
Executive Fire Officer program
Vocational
Fire Service Executive Development Program
Fire Service Executive Development Program
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Peers:
"Firefighting is dangerous. You don’t have to do this job. This is a blue collar job. Why are you here? You have a college degree."
Challenges I Overcame
First-Generation College Student
