ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- Jim Evans now sits atop the Arnold Air Force Base Fire and Emergency Services ladder.
Evans was named Arnold installation fire chief late last year. He officially assumed the role on Dec. 19, 2025, following the retirement of the previous installation fire chief.
“I was excited to get into the position and start making my mark on it,” Evans said of his reaction to being chosen to lead Arnold FES.
He brings to the post a dozen years of experience with Arnold FES. Shortly after Evans’ retirement from the Air Force following a 26-year service career, the Missouri native was hired in 2014 as Arnold FES assistant chief of prevention and training. The following year, he took on the role of assistant chief of operations.
In December 2024, Evans was named Arnold FES deputy chief.
When the prior FES chief announced he would retire at the end of 2025, Evans applied for the soon-to-be-open position. He was notified only days later of his selection.
As FES chief, Evans leads a 50-person team comprised of firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, as well as the Arnold FES Fire Prevention Office and several departmental administrative positions.
Arnold FES is staffed around the clock every day of the year, including holidays. Fifteen team members are assigned to each of the three daily shifts. The department is not only tasked with protecting the people and assets of Arnold AFB but also working with community first response agencies to assist in local responses.
“We have a great staff here, a great group of men and women,” Evans said. “I just look forward to working with every one of them and meeting their needs and trying to improve our tools and equipment as well as our response capabilities across the installation and with our mutual aid partners.”
Evans said his primary goal as chief is to continue to build on the legacy of his predecessor while strengthening mutual aid efforts with neighboring agencies.
“I would like to continue to improve our off-base relationships with our local mutual aid partners in training and responses,” he said.
Evans also wished to convey to the Arnold workforce that FES will remain primed and ready to respond to any emergencies that may occur on the installation.
“We’re still going to be here to respond 24/7 like we have,” Evans said. “There will be no change in our response capability, and we’re still here to assist and help out in any way we can.”