Traverse City names Air Force veteran Aaron Bunyea as new fire chief

Traverse City chose Aaron Bunyea to lead the Fire Department at a moment when the city is asking residents to trust the department with more than fire calls alone. Bunyea is set to begin May 13, just as Traverse City continues phasing in its role as the city’s primary ambulance provider ahead of full implementation in July 2026.

City officials said the appointment followed a national search built from a profile City Manager Benjamin Marentette developed after gathering input from Chief Jim Tuller, Fire Department leadership, the Firefighters Union and others. The recruitment drew candidates from across the country and locally. An interview panel of Grand Traverse County Emergency Management Coordinator Gregg Bird, former Ann Arbor Fire Department Battalion Chief Derek Wiseley, Traverse City Police Chief Matt Richmond and Human Resources Director Kristine Bosley interviewed nine semifinalists and unanimously recommended Bunyea.

The choice places a veteran of large, complex operations at the center of a department that is being judged on response, staffing stability and public confidence. Bunyea previously served as interim fire chief and deputy fire chief for the Clemson University Fire Department and the City of Clemson, where he oversaw 160 personnel. He also served as deputy fire chief for the U.S. Air Force, commanding 77 personnel. City officials said Bunyea emphasizes mental health and wellness for employees and brings a record of accountability, innovation and collaboration across ranks and agencies.

That background matters in Traverse City because the fire department is not only responsible for fire suppression. The city says firefighters are certified as EMTs and paramedics, and the department’s work is tied to emergency medical response across the city. Grand Traverse County Central Dispatch handles requests for law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies for the entire county and Traverse City, making leadership continuity a countywide issue as well as a city one.

Bunyea succeeds Jim Tuller, who joined the Traverse City Fire Department in April 1990 and became chief in June 2008. Tuller served 36 years with the city and 46 years in firefighting. His retirement leaves a short handoff period before Bunyea starts, and the city said crew captains will hold command of shifts in the meantime. Area fire chiefs and Grand Traverse County Central Dispatch will assist with incident command if needed, while Captain and Fire Marshal Keith Fritz will serve as the liaison to the City Manager’s Office.

The transition arrives as Traverse City prepares to become its own primary ambulance provider, a change backed by a feasibility study and a dedicated 1-mill tax levy approved by voters in November 2023. With Bunyea stepping in before that shift is complete, the city is signaling that the next fire chief will be measured not just by operations inside City Hall, but by how reliably the department serves Traverse City households when the next emergency call comes in.