Chief Steve Bradley has been a firefighter for 40 years and a chief fire officer for 20 of those years. Chief Bradley is an alumnus of the O’Neill Graduate School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington, IN (Public Management), the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, MD, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY (Fire and Safety Engineering), and Vincennes University, Vincennes, IN (Business Administration). Chief Bradley is the Chief Executive Officer of The Third Bugle Fire Training Company and also works as a consultant with PLHarper Consulting, Lafayette, IN.
The Third Bugle is a training site for fire officers and firefighters.
Fire Certification Classes
Command Training
Department Specific Training
EMS Training
EMS Inservice Classes
Add Your Past Experiences
Battalion Chief, Indianapolis Fire Department
(2007-2021)
As Battalion Chief for the Indianapolis Fire Department Chief Bradley relied on a blend of strategic command, leadership, and organizational talents to manage complex urban fire and EMS operations. The role required strong incident command judgment to rapidly assess risk, deploy multiple companies, and make sound decisions under pressure while operating within ICS and departmental SOPs. Also utilized leadership and communication skills—coaching company officers, maintaining accountability across stations and shifts, and providing clear, disciplined radio and face-to-face direction. Administrative competence, ethical judgment, and emotional intelligence allow the battalion chief to manage staffing, documentation, interagency coordination, and personnel issues while maintaining credibility with firefighters, city leadership, and the public.
Assistant Fire Chief, Washington Township Fire Department
(1999-2004)
As Assistant Fire Chief for the Washington Township Fire Department, Chief Bradley applied a balanced set of operational, leadership, and administrative talents developed over a full career in the fire service. He demonstrated strong strategic judgment by aligning daily operations, training, and staffing with departmental goals while maintaining operational readiness and firefighter safety. His leadership talent showed in mentoring officers, managing personnel issues with fairness and consistency, and building trust across shifts and ranks. Chief Bradley also brought administrative and organizational acumen to budgeting, policy implementation, interagency coordination, and compliance requirements, while exercising sound ethical judgment and clear communication with township leadership and the community—ensuring the department operated professionally, efficiently, and with public confidence.
Firefighter-Paramedic, Flight Medic and Division Chief of EMS and Training
(1981-1999)
Throughout his service as a firefighter/paramedic, flight medic, and later Division Chief of EMS and Training for the Washington Township Fire Department, Chief Bradley demonstrated a progression of talents that blended advanced clinical expertise with leadership and organizational skill. As a firefighter/paramedic and flight medic, he relied on sharp clinical judgment, technical proficiency, calm decision-making under extreme pressure, and the ability to function effectively within high-performance teams in dynamic, high-risk environments. As Division Chief, he expanded those talents into system-level leadership—developing EMS protocols, overseeing training and credentialing, ensuring regulatory compliance, and mentoring providers across all levels—while maintaining a strong emphasis on patient care quality, operational readiness, and professional accountability.
The Third Bugle 