Leadership in the Modern Fire Service
(Room 2B)
25 Feb 17
1:00 PM
-
2:30 PM
Tracks:
Leadership and Management Symposium (Day 2)
Today’s fire service is rapidly evolving and one of the biggest challenges facing company officers is how to address and balance all the issues currently facing the fire service. Never before has a company officer been asked to handle so many non-operational issues. Advancement in technology, cancer research, behavioral health awareness, accreditation, ISO rating, training, public events and the list goes on and can be overwhelming on any given day, especially while trying to maintain the crew’s operational readiness. Whether a new or seasoned company officer, you have seen how many departments are struggling to provide the necessary tools and training to assist in addressing both operational and non-operational issues because top management is struggling to understand and solve the same issues themselves. There are many issues facing today’s officers: post-fire decon; gear washing; marital problems; financial issues; internal issues; PTSD; etc. For years the mantra of the company officer was “to get you home in the morning” and unfortunately that is no longer acceptable when facing and trying to address many new and unprecedented challenges. Company officers cannot ignore the issues that they and their crews are facing, nor can they wait for their administration to find and fund solutions. Today’s company officer must identify creative solutions to complex problems at their own level. This course will discuss the most important issues facing company officers and how they can ensure that they are providing everything that their crew needs financially, mentally, physically and operationally.