Donald L. Thomas was appointed as Fire Marshal of the City of Detroit in June 2022. In this role, Thomas oversees the Fire Prevention Section and the Plans and Exams Section, ensuring fire safety standards and codes are met and kept throughout the City of Detroit.

Thomas joined the Detroit Fire Department in 2000. After rising through the ranks during his 14 years in firefighting service, and earning several citations, including the Medal of Valor, Thomas transitioned to the Fire Marshal Division, where he served in both the Fire Prevention Section and the Plans and Exams section. During this time, he was instrumental in the renovation of Michigan Central, the construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge and the retooling of GM’s Factory Zero.

As Fire Marshal, Thomas serves as the Incident Commander for many of Detroit’s large-scale events, such as the 2024 NFL Draft, the Detroit Grand Prix, and Electronic Music Festival.
Thomas is a nationally recognized expert in lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle (EV) technology and strives to ensure the City of Detroit is at the cutting edge of technology.

Thomas holds a bachelor's degree in public safety studies and a master’s degree in higher education leadership.