Selection Process and Background

Ball’s appointment follows a rigorous selection process in which he was chosen from a pool of 32 candidates. This list was narrowed down during a community engagement phase that included meet-and-greet sessions with the final four candidates.

A seasoned member of the Dallas Fire-Rescue team, Ball began his career in 1997 as a firefighter-paramedic and has steadily risen through the ranks to attain this significant leadership role.

Chief Ball’s Vision and Commitment

Upon his appointment, Chief Justin Ball expressed his gratitude, stating, “It’s an incredible honor to have been selected as the permanent Chief to lead the brave men and women with whom I have the pleasure of working with each day. I look forward to building on our positive momentum, focusing on the safety and wellness of our members, and continuing to deliver the best service to this community.”

Support from City Leadership

Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert highlighted Ball’s impressive leadership qualities: “Chief Ball has a demonstrated track record of strong leadership. He has brought fresh ideas to solve problems and seized on innovative opportunities to take this internationally recognized department to the next level.” She also acknowledged his contributions to maintaining Dallas as one of the safest large cities in the nation.

Mayor Eric Johnson further commended Ball’s expertise, particularly during emergency operations, stating, “Chief Ball has also been integral to our city’s life-safety responses to major incidents. I have seen him emerge as an adept leader during challenging times for Dallas.” He extended his confidence in Ball’s ability to enhance public safety in the city.

Looking Ahead

Justin Ball is set to officially assume his role as the chief of Dallas Fire-Rescue on April 23, 2025. In this capacity, he will oversee an extensive budget of approximately $430 million, managing a dedicated workforce of about 2,200 personnel.