09-05-2025
Tully named Midland Fire Department chief
May 8—MIDLAND — Michael Tully has been named as the ninth fire chief in the history of the Midland Fire Department.
Chief Tully is a lifelong resident of Midland and has served with distinction for over two decades within the Midland Fire Department. Since joining MFD in 2004, he has held several key positions — rising through the ranks from Firefighter and Engineer to Captain, Battalion Chief, and most recently, interim Fire Chief following Chief Charles Blumenauer's promotion to Managing Director of Public Safety.
"I would like to thank those who have supported and challenged me over these last 8 months," Tully said. "I am humbled for this opportunity to serve the men and women of the Midland Fire Department. I believe we are headed in a positive direction, but there is always room for improvement based off input from leadership and most importantly the boots on the ground. Again, thank you for this opportunity to work beside the men and women of the Midland Fire Department."
Tully brings a wealth of experience in operations, emergency management, EMS and personnel leadership. His credentials include TDSHS Paramedic, TCFP Master Firefighter, Wildland Firefighter, Fire Officer II, Fire Instructor II, NFA Incident Safety Officer, and Blue Card Incident Commander. He holds a bachelor's degree in Public Safety & Emergency Management and a master's degree in Public Administration.
"I am proud to officially welcome Chief Michael Tully as the new fire chief for the City of Midland," Mayor Lori Blong stated. "Over the past year as interim chief, Michael has provided steady, experienced leadership — guiding the department through critical moments with professionalism and purpose. Under his direction, the department continued to uphold the highest standards, including maintaining our ISO 1 rating, a distinction held by fewer than 1% of fire departments nationwide.
"He also played a pivotal role during the Midland Firemen's Retirement Fund negotiations, helping navigate a complex process with diligence and a shared commitment to long-term stability for our firefighters and community.
"Throughout his career as a Midland Firefighter, Chief Tully has served our community and the membership of the department faithfully. He has earned the trust of his team and the confidence of our leadership, and I look forward to all he will continue to accomplish in this role as Chief."
In addition to his leadership at the local level, he has been an active contributor to regional and statewide emergency response efforts, including serving on the Permian Basin Incident Management Team and participating in the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS). His recent coordination during the 2024 Texas Panhandle wildfires reflects his deep commitment to inter-agency collaboration and public safety.
"Promoting Mike Tully to assistant chief was one of the easiest decisions I've made, because I knew even then he had what it takes to lead this department," said Blumenauer, the fire chief from 2017-24. "I threw some big challenges his way — like leading our response during the COVID-19 pandemic — and he showed up every single day with strength, calm, and commitment. I'm so proud that he has been promoted to fire chief, and I'm even prouder to keep working alongside him. He's earned this."
