Joel Baker is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He was Honorably Discharged from the United States Marine Corps (1982). In 2003, Joel served as a Corpsman with the United States Navy Reserve during the Iraqi Enduring Freedom War. He began his professional fire service career with the City of East Point Fire Department (1986). In 1988, Joel joined the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD), where he is currently serving as the Interim Fire Chief. During his tenure as a member of the AFRD, he has held the following positions: Firefighter/Paramedic, Fire Lieutenant in Field Operations and the Atlanta Fire Training Academy, Captain to the department’s Hazardous Material/Technical Rescue Unit – Squad 4, Section Chief – Office of Professional Standards and Assistant Chief to the Office of Support Services. As Assistant Chief, he was instrumental in the management of the department’s 86 million dollar budget in addition to developing and implementing the department’s budget reduction strategies.
His previous assignment as Section Chief of the Office of Professional Standards section include overseeing the functions and operations of approximately 300 background investigations, 450 internal affairs complaints, and human resources procedures in accordance with all statues, laws, ordinances, and regulations for which the fire department is accountable. Joel has reviewed and prepared over 500 various documents relating to the department’s EEOC complaints, Psychological Services/Employee Assistance Program, and departmental law suits. Under his leadership, the AFRD implemented a new OPS procedural manual that includes the department’s first Disciplinary Review Panel, which utilizes its first disciplinary matrix. Joel has ensured that the department incorporates the “Douglas Factors,” which is a guideline that must be used by the department’s disciplinary authority (Fire Chief) before mandating any disciplinary actions.
Joel’s educational experiences consist of Dekalb Community College (Georgia Perimeter College) where he received his Associate of Applied Sciences, in Fire Science Technology (1995). Also he is a graduate of Georgia State University – Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources & Policy Studies (2006). Presently he is attending the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College where he is one course (3 hours) from obtaining his Master of Public Administration (Justice Administration) degree from Columbus State University (Columbus, Georgia).
On July 9, 2008, Joel was recognized by the Commission on Professional Credentialing and received his Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFOD). This certification is received by demonstrating a high level of competence, as witnessed by his peers, documenting professional, educational, technical, and community service achievements and fulfilling prescribed standards of performance, ethics, and conduct. Currently he is attending the Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) as a third year student (August 2009) at the National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, MD.
As an Atlanta native, he is deeply rooted in community service organizations, to name a few: The Atlanta Citizens Fire Academy, Atlanta Citizens Emergency Response Team (ACERT), Board of Trustees at Kelly Chapel United Methodist Church, and the Atlanta Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen.