Niceville Names New Fire Chief

In Brief:

🚒 New Leadership: The City of Niceville announces Alex Kukulus as its incoming fire chief, succeeding retiring Chief Tommy Mayville.

🎖️ Veteran Experience: Kukulus brings 28 years in fire service and 25 years as a paramedic from his career in Nevada.

📅 Community Welcome: A public change of command ceremony will take place July 11 at 11 a.m. at the municipal complex.

The City of Niceville has appointed a new fire chief. Alex Kukulus will take over the department’s top job from longtime Chief Tommy Mayville, who is retiring after more than four decades of service.

Kukulus is scheduled to begin his duties on Friday, July 18.

Kukulus brings 28 years of experience in fire service. He previously served in Reno, Nevada’s Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue, where he retired as Deputy Fire Chief in 2022. In addition to his fire service background, he has 25 years of experience as a paramedic.

He and his wife, Breanne, have lived in Navarre for the past three years with their teenage twins, Mason and Madison.

“I am excited to begin this new endeavor and become a part of the close-knit community of Niceville,” Kukulus said in a prepared statement.

The Chief Kukulus steps into a role with some challenges. He will have to continue negotiations with the Firefighter’s union, which organized during Mayville’s tenure as chief.

He will also lead the department as it works through a lawsuit filed by a former firefighter for wrongful termination.

He also steps into a role that has significant room for expansion. There are four fire chiefs in a three-mile radius of one another. Those departments have older or unstable leadership – which could lead to a consolidation of the departments.

RELATED: Valparaiso Fire Chief Out

Valparaiso, the newest and most unstable department, looks to need the help consolidation would bring – especially after Charlie Franks’ departure and allegations of racism against the new chief in the first month of his time as the department’s leader.

The City of Niceville will host a change of command ceremony at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 11, at the Niceville municipal complex. The public is invited to attend. City officials say food and refreshments will be provided. The event will include a chance to meet Kukulus and recognize Mayville’s 43-year career with the department.