Phillip C. Vorlander
Chief of the Department

Phillip C. Vorlander assumed command of the Des Moines Fire Department in December 2002. Chief Vorlander started in the fire service as a volunteer in his hometown of Lodi, Wisconsin and joined the career fire service when he was appointed to the Madison, Wisconsin Fire Department in 1969. Chief Vorlander is very proud of having been one of the first paramedic trained fire fighters in the state of Wisconsin, graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School’s Paramedic Training Program in 1972. During his tenure with the Madison Fire Department, Chief Vorlander served in all ranks and all divisions before his retirement as Executive Assistant Fire Chief in January, 1997. That same month, Chief Vorlander joined the East Lansing, Michigan, Fire Department as Chief.

Chief Vorlander holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program, attended the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, is a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE) and has earned the Chief Fire Officer (CFO), and Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) designations. He is president of the National Fire Service Incident Management System Consortium, chairs the Polk County (Iowa) Emergency Management Commission, and is a member of the National Fire Protection Association, the National Society of Executive Fire Officers, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.