Chief  Markus Smith joined the Memphis Fire Department on October 9, 1995, as a member of Fire Recruit Class #75. His first assignment as a firefighter was Truck-14, B-Shift, then Engine 36, B-Shift, before being promoted to driver on September 11, 2001. Chief Smith was promoted to Lieutenant on December 30, 2006 and assigned to Engine 8. On January 16, 2014, Chief Smith was promoted to Battalion Chief and was assigned to Battalion 8 in the Parkway Village/Airport area of the city, overseeing five fire stations. While assigned to Battalion 8, Chief Smith also served as Logistics Bureau Manager, in a temporary capacity, until a permanent Manager was put in place. He was responsible for managing the personnel assigned and procuring daily supplies for use job wide in that role. In July 2016, Chief Smith was assigned as the Battalion Chief of the Training Division. He was responsible for overseeing and managing the Lieutenants assigned to fire training, annual in-service training, professional development and the training programs for newly hired Fire Recruits. On November 26, 2018, Chief Smith was promoted to Division Chief and assigned to 1st Division on the A-Shift. In this position, he was responsible for the staffing, training and management of thirty-two fire stations and six Battalion Chiefs, covering half of the city. Chief Smith has served in multiple roles, some of those having been Chairman of the Awards Committee, which oversees the recognition of Fire Department personnel and civilians for heroic and life-saving actions, Co-Chairman of the Uniform Committee and working member of the Safety Committee, Special Events Committee and Rules and Regulations committee.

Chief Markus D. Smith holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management. He is a member of the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association, a graduate of The First Municipal Technical Advisory Services (MTAS) Management and Leadership program, through the University of Tennessee, in 2017, and the first Drucker Institute for the Public Sector. On May 25, 2020, Chief Smith was promoted Deputy Chief of Operations. In this capacity, Chief Smith is responsible for oversight and leadership of the Suppression Bureau, Air Rescue Fire Fighting (Airport), Fire Training, and the Special Operations bureau. Chief Smith is happily married and enjoys spending time with his wife, children, family and friends.