Jul 16, 2018
Executive Officer Leadership: Opportunity Missed!
It's said we should leave an organization better than we found it. How can we do that if we don’t seek out a next generation of members who come in the door prepared to take the organization to that next level? Or if we don't nurture that in them?
Jul 16, 2018
President’s Letter: Education is a Pillar of Our Mission
Our profession isn’t for the faint of heart and it requires almost constant learning. The fire and emergency service is saturated with places to go and associations to join; it’s important that we don’t get distracted.
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Jun 28, 2018
Company Officer Leadership: Reverse-Engineering Succession Management to Grow Your Career
Few departments have successfully implemented a succession-management program, so to have the greatest success in promotions and job performance, aspiring chiefs and officers must know how to reverse-engineer succession management.
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Jun 28, 2018
Fire and Life Safety: Why Pursue Our Professional Credentials?
What’s the common denominator between obtaining coaching credentials and working for our fire service professional credentials? What value do these provide?
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May 14, 2018
Keeping the Lug Nuts Tight on the Chariot Wheels!
Innovation is happening in the fire service. The question is, do you know about it? If you do know, do you have time to develop an implementation strategy?
May 14, 2018
Is a Degree for EMS Providers Needed to Advance the Profession?
The EMS community is split on whether EMS needs to add a college degree to the minimum requirements for all paramedic training. This article is an in-depth consideration of this question for American EMS providers.
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Apr 17, 2018
Training as if Your Life Depended on It!
The public and all our fellow firefighters are relying on us to be 100% proficient 100% of the time. The only way that happens is through training—every day, every shift, whenever and however you can.
Apr 05, 2018
Enhancing Fire-Rescue Human Capital: Respect
Why do people like me cherish respect? Because of my children. I want my children to be respectful of their peers, their employers, their clients and themselves.
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Mar 16, 2018
Enhancing Fire-Rescue Human Capital: The Expanded Visual Scope of a Supervisor
This month’s prescription: Prepare for an expanded viewpoint.
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Mar 02, 2018
President’s Letter: Preparing Our Departments for All Hazards
The fire service handles things outside our traditional mission of firefighting: from community paramedicine and terrorism to hazardous materials and technical rescue, our world’s fire service is the benefactor of all-hazards solutions.
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Feb 20, 2018
IAFC Organizing Fire Operations Conference in Middle East
Conference offers unique opportunity to explore leadership development, education sessions covering many operational components.
Feb 05, 2018
The Gold Standard: Are You Ready to Shine?
Today’s fire service leaders must develop professional competencies to lead their organizations into the future, fully engaging in their communities, becoming certified and credentialed and embracing lifelong learning.
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Feb 05, 2018
Excellent Firefighters: We’re Not Promoting Through Testing Difficulties
There’s no question the fire service needs standards, but are our standards so stringent that we’re promoting the academic and passing over vocational candidates?
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Feb 02, 2018
Executive Officer Leadership: Atypical Innovation
Innovation isn’t always packaged in the shiniest wrapping and it doesn’t always cost money. Sometimes, it’s packaged in as research that provides perspectives leading to innovative solutions.
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Jan 18, 2018
Chiefs, Union Leaders Come Together as LMA Conference Returns
For any fire department that has labor-management relationships or new people in leadership roles, the 2018 LMA Conference is the place to be.
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Jan 18, 2018
Choose Your Next Officer with These Key Evaluation Areas
A key factor to ensuring a successful and highly reliable organization is finding those who are committed to excellence and embody the epitome of the organization’s vision.
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Jan 11, 2018
IAFC Foundation Now Accepting Education Scholarship Applications
Scholarships help leaders to advance their college-level education.
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Oct 16, 2017
Emotional Intelligence, or Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
Traditionally, intellectual capacity has been seen as a primary indicator of one’s ability to succeed. Emotional intelligence is now also considered a crucial element in individual and professional success.
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Sep 20, 2017
Developing Tomorrow's Leaders Today
FSEDI provides new and aspiring chiefs with the tools they need for successful and productive tenures. Apply by Oct. 27.
Sep 14, 2017
The Driving Force Behind Catalyst Leadership
A catalyst is a driving force behind transforming one product into a more usable, valuable one. Without it, no change can take place. In leadership, how does a catalyst become the driving force behind change?
Sep 14, 2017
President’s Letter: Who’s on Deck?
Our obligation as fire chiefs is to do everything we can to develop, encourage and support future leaders.
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Sep 13, 2017
Company Officer Leadership: Personally Commit to Professional Development
Until a few years ago, there were few options for professional development of midcareer members. True professional development, both education and training, was limited to chief matters. Through decades of effort, that's changing.
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Aug 29, 2017
IAFC’s Fire Service Executive Development Institute Available for 6th Year
Apply by October 6 for the IAFC's Fire Service Executive Development Institute.
Aug 17, 2017
Don’t Train Your Firefighters to Be Leaders
How can we build relationships and invest the time and energy to make our firefighters successful? We need to leave the footprints behind that can create a path for their success.
Aug 17, 2017
Executive Officer Leadership: Professional Development for the Entire Organizational Chart
One of the questions many training officers and fire chiefs struggle with is how to structure professional and career development programs within their departments.
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Aug 17, 2017
Company Officer Leadership: Leadership Development
Leadership development—what does that really mean? Can you develop people into becoming good leaders, or are leaders just born to be leaders?
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Aug 02, 2017
An Evolution in Transparency: In Our Departments and Communities
It’s time to introduce our personnel to the public we serve. People have seen our folks in action. They’ve invited them into their homes at their time of need. But who is it that’s stepping across the threshold?
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Jul 17, 2017
Executive Officer Leadership: Try a KISS Succession Plan
It’s been said you never know what a job entails until you’re in it. As the fire chief, exposing those coming up behind you to what you do is a major step in minimizing the gap.
Apr 03, 2017
Company Officer Leadership: Innovation in Officer-Development Training
Fairfax County (Virginia) Fire and Rescue serves rural, suburban and urban environments, and with such varied needs, ensuring a highly trained and effective officer corps becomes even more critical.
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Feb 14, 2017
Hazmat Initiatives at the IAFC: Program Update and Learning Opportunities
Here’s what’s been happening at the IAFC in the Hazmat Center.
Feb 02, 2017
President’s Letter: All-Hazards Experience Is the Worst Teacher
As I was standing alongside a road, watching a mile-wide flame front from a fast-moving wildland fire move rapidly toward me, a friend pulled up and said, “Fire first gives the test, then provides the lesson.”
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Feb 02, 2017
'Tis Intimidation Season—Again!
IAFC members and staff are again being harassed and lied to by representatives of a union upset that our organization is holding FRM at the Green Valley Ranch in Nevada. Don't let these bullying tactics derail our conference.
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Jan 20, 2017
In Your Leadership Toolkit: Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is recognized as a necessary component of leadership. Fire and emergency service leaders must keep this tool sharp and use it effectively in the firehouse and on every call. How sharp is the tool in your kit?
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Jan 20, 2017
Company Officer Leadership: Moving Forward in 2017
We know that one of the most powerful positions has little impact on what we do daily when the bell goes off in the fire station. Now that the vote is done, it’s time to move forward and continue with our daily responsibilities as company officers.
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Oct 19, 2016
Motorola Solutions Foundation Public Safety Grant Funds 5th Year of Fire Service Executive Development Institute
Fairfax, Va. – The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has received a significant grant award as part of the Motorola Solutions Foundation’s public safety grant award program. The grant will make it possible for the IAFC to provide a ...
Oct 18, 2016
NFA’s Growing Impact on Community Risk Reduction
One goal of the USFA is to reduce risk and increase resiliency through programs and training in preparedness, prevention and mitigation, and the NFA has offered courses focused on prevention since it doors opened in 1980.
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Sep 19, 2016
If Not Now, When?
Training is about today. Education is about tomorrow: what the next community need is and where the fire and emergency service fits in.
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Sep 16, 2016
Company Officer Leadership: Officer Development at FRI 2016 – A First-Hand Look
“ODP is second to none. There’s no other training for company and chief officers that compares to the Officer Development Program at FRI.”
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Sep 16, 2016
Executive Officer Leadership: Formal Education Needs in the Fire Service
The fire and emergency service is a dynamic profession, and it’s up to each member to continue to improve.
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Sep 16, 2016
Building Experience After Education
“That was a great class. Now what do I do with it?” That thought has passed through the minds of many fire officers, but how do you apply your new information to make it practical, valuable? Read more
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Sep 09, 2016
"Man in the Mirror"
You may not be changing the world, but you are sending a message of change to your fire department with everything you do or don’t do. So are you committed to the lifelong learning a chief officer in the 21st-century fire service needs?
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Sep 09, 2016
Executive Officer Leadership- Are You Energized to Develop our Future Leaders?
To truly develop leaders, we must exercise more effort than just formulating a well-laid-out plan; we must energize ourselves and the individuals to achieve this goal.
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Sep 09, 2016
The Lawsuit Litmus Test
Anyone in public service knows that legal action or a lawsuit may be just the next call or the next shift away.
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Sep 09, 2016
What to Do When Internal Candidates Don’t Get the Promotion
Fostering a pool of both interested and qualified personnel allows chiefs to select their command staff and local administrators or governing boards to draw from for their next fire chief.
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Jul 30, 2016
IAFC Foundation Receives Motorola Solutions Foundation Grant
The IAFC Foundation, providing first responders with the educational opportunities they need to lead the fire service and serve ...
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Jul 30, 2016
President`s Letter: When Bad Things Happen to Good People
One of the benefits of being the IAFC president is having fire service friends throughout the country and around the ...
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Jul 30, 2016
President`s Letter: We Are More Alike Than You Think
When you look at the fire service from the 30,000-foot level, it seems like we spend a great deal of ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Fire & Life Safety: "Leadership Manager" and Other Abuses of English
Every year, our friends at Lake Superior State University publish an annual list of banished words, those overused words ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Company Officer Leadership: The Value of a Solid Reputation
A good reputation is one of the most valuable assets we have. It takes years to build, but can be ...
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Jul 30, 2016
11 Gifts for Your Members: Be a Leader, Be a Giver
Once you become a chief officer, you no longer put out fires, extricate trapped victims or provide emergency medical care; ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Company Officer Leadership: Are We Just Checking Boxes?
In the job description for these lieutenant positions, besides generic language such as “has the ability to lift X pounds,” ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Safety & Health: Grassroots Leadership
Leadership. Ask a roomful of people to identify a leader and responses will range from very recognizable icons to the ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Scholarships Available through the IAFC Foundation
The IAFC Foundation is now accepting applications for its educational scholarships from qualified first responders. The deadline is June 1, ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Lifelong Learning in the Digital Era
Tomorrow``s illiterate will not be the man who can``t read; he will be the man who has not learned how ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Executive Fire Officer: Facing the New Realities
In today``s world, shrinking budgets, increased competition and the availability of online information and resources means that fire and emergency ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Firefighter/EMT Safety, Health & Survival: "So, Coach?"
Organizationally, we``re as strong and successful as our company-level operations—in particular, our company officers. Company officers come almost exclusively from ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Internships: Opportunities for Fire Departments and Recruits Alike
Economic realities have forced hiring freezes, layoffs and fire station closures. Fire departments respond to calls with staffing levels below ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Company Officer Leadership: Preparing Chief Officers
When someone describes the fire service as “100 years of tradition unimpeded by progress,” does it conjure nostalgic images of ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Communication: A Key to Successful Succession Planning
Only after Harry Truman was sworn in as president did he learn that the United States possessed a weapon unseen ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Company Officer Leadership: Learn How to Be the Next Leader and Coach
Coaching is face-to-face leadership that pulls together peoplewith diverse backgrounds, talents, experiences, and interests, encourages them to step up ...
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Jul 30, 2016
IAFC at 140: The Ladder the IAFC Built
The task for the IAFC now is the same as it has been since its inception 140 years ago: share ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Recruiting a Diverse Firefighting Force
For many years, the Rochester (N.Y.) Fire Department has faced the challenge of recruiting a diverse firefighting force that better ...
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Jul 30, 2016
President's Letter: Climbing the Professional Ladder, Helping Others Up
There comes a point in all our lives when we consider a change in our jobs; the reasons may vary ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Successful Succession Doesn`t Happen by Accident
The American fire service focuses its members on the tactics and strategy they confront daily in responding to all-hazard emergencies, ...
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Jul 30, 2016
You and ISO
Plainfield Fire Protection District Plainfield, Illinois Demonstrating the continued partnership between the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) of the ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Company Officer Leadership: Advancing Your Education and Your Career
Wanted: Fire chief. Requirements: bachelor``s degree from a regionally accredited institution in fire science or closely related field`` master``s degree ...
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Jul 30, 2016
IAFC Foundation Receives Motorola Solutions Foundation Public Safety Grant
The IAFC Foundation, promoting higher education and research in the fire services, has received a $50,000 grant as part ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Training with New Technology
For many businesses, travel and training are among the first things cut when the economy slows. The fire and emergency ...
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Jul 30, 2016
IAFC Foundation Scholarship Deadline Is June 1
Fire service professionals who want to further their professional education can apply for educational scholarships with the International Association of ...
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Jul 30, 2016
IAFC Foundation Receives Donation from 1-800-BOARDUP
At the Welcome Reception at FRI in Atlanta, Chief Jack McElfish, IAFC Foundation treasurer, accepted a generous donation on behalf ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Emergency Medical Services: What`s In a Name?
A name defines who we are, and in fire and EMS, we use all kinds of names. There are names ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Emergency Medical Services: "Knowledge Itself Is Power"
"Ipsa scientia potestas est." This Latin phrase meaning "Knowledge itself is power" is attributed to Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626). He ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Building a Community for Homeland Defenders Through Education
A famous quote from John F. Kennedy is inscribed in the ceiling of the US Embassy to Canada here in ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Company Officer Leadership: Developing Leaders from Within Your Department
I was speaking to a new friend several months ago and we began discussing some of the current problems company ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Mentoring as a Mandate for Successful Fire Service Leaders
Successful organizations are built on the wealth of their human capital. Nothing is of more critical mass to an organization ...
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Jul 30, 2016
The Dialog Continues: IAFC Members Weigh In on Succession Planning
The February 1 issue of IAFC On Scene focused on the topic of succession planning, a topic many in the ...
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Jul 30, 2016
The Need for Training: Tested Under Extreme Conditions
We often hear from our troops, “Training again, man that’s all we do!” and “Why do we need this?” Such ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Chief Pouget Takes the Helm: Frederick County Names First Female Fire Chief and Director
July 22 was a historic day for the Frederick County (Md.) Division of Fire & Rescue Services as they welcomed ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Succession Planning: Ensuring Organizational Success
One of the most challenging dimensions of organizational leadership is succession planning. John C. Maxwell writes: "When all is said ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Pursuing Your Degree and Need Funding Support? Check Out IAFC Foundation Scholarships
The IAFC Foundation is accepting applications for its educational scholarships from qualified first responders; the deadline is June 1. Scholarships ...
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Jul 30, 2016
President`s Letter: Thanks to a Retiring Leader
One of the themes of my term as IAFC president is the issue of succession planning and leadership development in ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Company Officer Leadership: Looking to Your Future
As a company officer, have you asked yourself where to next? Is my next promotion taking me to the fire-prevention ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Transitioning into the Fire-Rescue Service
The cost of recruiting, hiring, testing and training new recruits runs into tens of thousands of dollars, and a loss ...
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Jul 30, 2016
From Problems to Possibilities: 7 Tips for Focusing on Opportunities
Whether you think you can or think you can``t – you``re right. This quote, attributed to Henry Ford, illustrates perfectly ...
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Jul 30, 2016
Stepping Up to Lead
It’s Tuesday morning, August 24: as I’m sitting in the Denver airport, destination Atlanta, I’m thinking about my responsibility as ...
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Jul 29, 2016
Company Officer Leadership: Leadership 101
At this point in your fire service career, you``ve probably attended leadership conferences or classes, read leadership books, watched leadership ...
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Jul 29, 2016
Mentoring Program Off to a Good Start
The IAFC``s Company Officer Mentor Program is off to a rousing start, with eight IAFC company-officer members currently enrolled in ...
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Jul 29, 2016
Emergency Medical Services: On the Right Path
We talk a lot about developing and empowering our employees, creating succession plans and offering educational opportunities to improve their ...
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Jul 29, 2016
Fire & Life Safety: Taking Time to Grow
At what point in a fire service career does a firefighter begin their education in leadership? Most would argue that ...
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Jul 29, 2016
Company Officer Leadership: Professional Development Can Be a Two-Way Street
Perform a web search on "fire officer development" and you``ll quickly see how a new company officer can become overwhelmed ...
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Jul 29, 2016
IAFC at 140: Who Will Lead Us Next?
The fire service has had smart, experienced, bold leaders at the helm since the first splash of water snuffed out ...
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Jul 29, 2016
A New Milestone in the Officer Development Program
This year the IAFC introduced Executive Chief Officer-Level II at Fire-Rescue International, which also marked the final level of the ...
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Jul 29, 2016
Emergency Medical Services: EFO - It`s Not Just About Fire
During a recent discussion about the Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) at the National Fire Academy (NFA), I was asked ...
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Jul 29, 2016
Education and Accreditation: To Serve, Meet the Requirements
A senior fire official I know once surprised me by saying that the National Fire Academy was a "bunch of ...
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Jul 29, 2016
IAFC at 140: An Idea that Created Leaders
The key to moving any industry forward is taking an idea—be it simple or complex—and transforming it into something tangible. ...
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Jul 29, 2016
Fire & Life Safety: Equipping Ourselves Now for the Fire Service of Tomorrow
The foundation of our careers has come from influences inside and outside the fire service. Every inspection, plan review, investigation, ...
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Jul 29, 2016
Company Officer Leadership: Be a Better Leader for Tomorrow
Our parents try to instill in us as children the importance of education. We all choose different career paths, and ...
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Jul 11, 2016
Developing the Future with Vision
If you’re reading this article, at some point in your life you’ve made a decision to improve yourself, not only ...
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Jun 23, 2016
A Potential Game Changer for the Next Call
The pipeline incident may have happened more than six years ago, but it’s a vivid memory that hasn’t faded for ...
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Jun 14, 2016
IAFC and USFA Release National Safety Culture Change Initiative Web-Based and Instructor-Led Training
USFA and IAFC released a web-based training program and instructor-led training materials, supporting the National Safety Culture Change Initiative (NSCCI).
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Feb 05, 2016
2016 Fire Service Executive Development Institute Participants Selected
Fairfax, Va. - The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) announced the names of the individuals who have been accepted ...
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Jan 15, 2016
Mentoring in a Diverse Organization
Over the past 25 years, mentoring has been used in both formal and informal settings. One reason organizations use mentors ...
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Dec 21, 2015
Company Officers in 2015 and Beyond
The IAFC has recognized the progression of leaders within the fire service and recognizes the benefits of beginning the leadership ...
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Jul 31, 2015
Leadership Development: An Obligation
This in-depth article compiles research and recommendations from experts in the arena of leadership development.
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Apr 29, 2015
2015 Fire Service Executive Development Institute Participants Selected
Fairfax, Va. - The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) today announced the participants accepted into the third-year of the ...
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Sep 16, 2014
Succession Planning or Succession Program?
When chiefs see the phrase succession planning, many think they need to develop a plan for who will succeed them. Building a succession program is a better approach.
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Sep 15, 2014
"What is a FSEDI?"
At FRI this year, it seemed like everywhere you looked, there was someone with a name badge ribbon "FSEDI." Actually, ...
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Aug 15, 2014
Firefighter/EMT Safety, Health & Survival: Share, Listen, Let Go
Firefighter/EMT Safety, Health & Survival:
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May 30, 2014
FSEDI Participants Complete First Week of Yearlong Executive Development Program
Fairfax, Va. - Twenty-two members of the 2014 Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI) have completed the first week of ...
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Apr 07, 2014
Officers Selected for Fire Service Executive Development Institute for 2014 Session
Fairfax, Va. - The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) announced the cadre of students accepted into the 2014 session ...
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Feb 19, 2014
IAFC Continues Growth of Next-Generation Fire Service Leaders with Support from Motorola Solutions Foundation
Fairfax, Va. - The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) today announced it has received a grant as part of ...
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Jan 23, 2014
Doing It Differently—Back to the Future at Symposium in the Sun
This year, VCOS Symposium in the Sun``s theme was "Do It Different: Back to the Future." Our new hotel, the ...
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Jun 20, 2013
Mentoring Program for Future Chiefs
The International Association of Fire Chiefs has launched a new mentoring program targeted to company officers as part of its ...
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Mar 25, 2013
Mapping the Future of Fire-Rescue International
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is pleased to announce the locations set to host Fire-Rescue International (FRI) through ...
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Feb 28, 2013
Diving In: A New Chief's Perspective on Assuming Leadership
Advancing professionally can be both exciting and nerve-wracking; what makes anyone jump into the deep end of this pool? On Scene talks to a new chief about the decision to take the plunge and his continuing professional journey.
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Feb 27, 2013
First Class: Officers Selected for Fire Service Executive Development Institute
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) announced the inaugural cadre of students accepted into the Fire Service Executive Development ...
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Sep 11, 2012
Educational Requirements Are a Must for Today's Fire Chief
Let’s get right to it: without a college degree or advanced professional certifications, such as Chief Fire Officer (CFO) or ...
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Jul 13, 2011
A New Outlook on Education
In today's world, it's not always true that you get a simple answer when you ask a simple question. That's ...
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