The purpose of this course is to prepare upcoming leaders, while also refreshing current leaders, for why incorporating passion into their leadership is important. It discusses team building, the importance of honesty and good communication while creating awareness of bad traits like gossip, malice and ego. It is designed to be a journey of lessons learned through understanding tradition, dedication, mutual trust, humility and the importance of family. It teaches you how to eliminate complacency and strive for success, how to achieve goals in both life and your career. The difference between pride and ego and most importantly the different sides of the passion sword. The presenter will discuss how using passion for good things will help you become a great leader or by using passion in a close-minded blind way will make you lose your following. The main objective is to motivate leaders to incorporate passion in their leadership style while inspiring their people to love the job as much as they do. Passion is our fuel, it’s what makes us go where we go, but unfortunately, we sometimes lose that fuel and we become complacent. This course will help bring you back to that day when you first became a firefighter and remind you of that love and eliminate the complacency that has set in over the years. Passion is the difference between doing things because you WANT to and doing things because you HAVE to. The best leaders have the drive and passion to make themselves and their people better every day.

Bio:

Dave McGlynn has been in Fire & Emergency Services since 2001, with a career spanning municipal and federal roles. He currently serves as a professional Fire Chief within Federal Fire and Emergency Services. Over his tenure he has had experiences as a Firefighter, Driver/Operator, Company Officer, Training Officer, and Operations Chief. Dave has shared his knowledge as a featured speaker at FDIC International and serves on the advisory board for FDIC and Fire Engineering. An accomplished Fire Instructor and Public Speaker, Dave has contributed articles to Fire Engineering Magazine and FIREFIGHTERNATION and hosts the Fire Engineering Podcast “The Training Officer.” He holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire & Emergency Services Administration as well as a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership. Dave is also the author of The Training Officer: Do You Have What It Takes? 

This class covers two major topics:

 1. Hands-on Leadership, discussing this progressive leadership style as well as the key factors for success.

2. RIT Operations, examining the many facets of RIT from the stress response physiology to the command aspect to the rescue itself. Students will learn the difference between a proactive and reactive RIT, take a deeper look at the functionality of RIT, and realize its importance on the fireground.

Using case studies, collected national data, and the instructor’s personal experiences, students can take information back to their respective agencies to enhance tactics and approach.

Bio

Bassel Ibrahim is a 20-year student of the fire service, currently serving as the Company Officer of Tower 1 on the Orlando Fire Department, Bassel started his career in Volusia County, FL. Spent most of his time in Special Operations (Orlando Heavy Rescue 1 & Tower 6, Volusia Squad 35 & 23) and was a member of FL Task Force 9 for 7 years. He is a Florida and Georgia Smoke Diver, Georgia F.L.A.M.E.S graduate and is the owner and lead instructor of PRO (Proactive Rescue Operations), a training company that focuses on RIT, Survival and Truck operations.

Bassel is the founding member of the Firefighter Mayday Survey,  leads the Orlando FD new hire PT programs, the Orlando competition teams and teaches the USAR series at the state level. Bassel has also presented lectures and workshops to many fire conferences, local fire departments and FOOLS chapters, including FDIC. He also has taken part in many podcasts and interviews and has published a few articles on RIT Operations and Leadership for Fire Engineering, Fire Rescue 1 and Fire Chiefs Magazine. He also serves as a panelist for a Mayday series webinar hosted by Fire Rescue1 and has been a guest speaker on the Humpday Hangout.

This course will focus on those issues that firefighters must be aware of to operate more safely in the buildings we are entering. Discussed will be how different types of construction and occupancies change the rules of the game and how personnel on scene must adjust the strategy and tactics to meet that challenge. Renovations, lightweight and large area structures and vacant buildings and the structural carcass dangers will also be covered. Strategies regarding these buildings and their idiosyncrasies will be a further focus point, offering solutions to address the concerns discussed.

The student shall:
1. Understand the concept of “one-size-does-not-fit-all” firefighting
2. Recognize and understand how to properly conduct operations in lightweight structures
3. Recognize and understand how to properly conduct operations in large area structures
4. Recognize and understand how to properly conduct operations in vacant and renovated structures
5. Recognize and understand how to properly conduct operations in the structural carcass
6. Understand the risk vs. gain profile of operations in the buildings that change the rules of the game
7. Understand that we do not dictate to these structures; these structures dictate necessary (and unnecessary) actions to us.
8. Survive a fire in a building that changes the rules of the game

Bio:

ANTHONY AVILLO, M.S. retired in March, 2015 after a 30-year career in the fire service. Avillo was a deputy chief in North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire & Rescue, assigned as 1st Platoon regional tour commander. He holds a Master’s Degree in National Security Studies and a BS degree in Fire Science from New Jersey City University. He is an Adjunct Professor at New Jersey City University. Avillo is ISFSI Region 23 Director. Avillo is an FDIC instructor and member of the FDIC advisory board and the editorial advisory board of Fire Engineering. He is the author of Fireground Strategies, 3rd edition (Fire Engineering, 2015) and Fireground Strategies Workbook Volumes I, II, and III (Fire Engineering, 2002, 2010, 2016). Avillo also co-authored with Chief Ed Flood Full Contact Leadership, (Fire Engineering, 2017). He was a contributing author to Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and Firefighter II (Fire Engineering, 2009, 2018) and is co-author of its Study Guide (Fire Engineering, 2010). Avillo has also contributed to both volumes of the Pass It On books by Billy Goldfeder (Pennwell, 2015, 2016). Avillo was a collaborator in the Tactical Perspectives DVD series (Fire Engineering, 2011) and has issued the DVD’s Control of Fireground Operations (Fire Engineering, 2016) and Forging a Culture of Safety (Fire Engineering, 2013). Avillo also co-hosts a radio show, Fireground Strategies and Other Stuff from the Street with Chief Jim Duffy on Fire Engineering BlogTalk Radio. Avillo was the recipient of the 2012 Fire Engineering/ISFSI George D. Post Fire Instructor of the Year Award.

A study showed that 25% of the participants received zero hours of thermal imager training. Another 38% had one to two hours of thermal imager training. Many firefighters find the thermal imager on their apparatus without any training or education. This class will enable you to understand why, how, and when to utilize the thermal imager effectively and efficiently. This class will cover what a thermal imager can and cannot do, and knowing the different types of emitters. Students will learn a basic understanding of how the thermal imaging camera works and gain knowledge on the parts of a thermal imager. Learning the terms associated with thermal imaging use and how to scan an area with the thermal imager, while understanding how to properly read and interpret the information given to the user is paramount in success.

At the end of this course students will have the knowledge base to make informed and educated decisions based on information from the thermal imager. They will also gain the knowledge and understanding to use the camera in many different applications. 

Bio:

Joseph DeVito is a Captain in Florida with over 30 years of public service experience. He has worked at volunteer organizations, as an EMT-P for a county-run EMS department, and has been at his current fire department for 20 years. 

Joe holds the CPSE Fire Officer Designation. He is a Florida Fire and EMS instructor and is Level 1 Thermography certified. Joe has been blessed to present at fire conferences around the nation, including FDIC, Firehouse Expo, and Firehouse World. He has been published in Fire Engineering and Firehouse Magazine and has been on podcasts and webcasts, including Fire Engineering Webcasts.  He loves teaching fire science and thermal imaging, a tool he feels is underutilized in the fire service.

The toughest and most critical decisions you make in your career typically revolve around committing to an interior attack or choosing another route. Seasoned officers know the difference between “We can get it” and “It’s lost”. You should too…

Utilizing a simple framework that allows you to build on your experiences, and those of others, you can develop an intuitive approach that grows with you throughout your career. This is not a magic class, and no one becomes a great decision maker by attending a few classes and watching a few videos. The goal is to create a framework of 3 varying profiles: Rescue, Building and Fire. These profiles allow you to keep focused on your decisions and give you the ability to draw on what you’ve learned and react to changes in the dynamic fire environment. This is intended to be both a useful strategic and tactical tool on the fireground, as well as a dynamic instructional tool that will greatly enhance fireground aptitude during drills. The Go/No-Go decision is among the most critical you will ever make. This training seeks to help you make the best decisions possible.

Bio:

Mike Gagliano has over 33 years of fire/crash/rescue experience with the Seattle Fire Department and the United States Air Force. Mike teaches across the country on Fireground Tactics/Decision-Making, Air Management, Leadership and Company Officer Development. He is currently the president of the Firefighter Air Coalition (aircoalition.org).

Captain Gagliano has written numerous fire service articles and is co-author of the bestselling books Air Management for the Fire Service and Challenges of the Firefighter Marriage. He is a member of the Fire Engineering/FDIC Advisory Board Firefighter and the Emeritus Board of the Firefighter Safety Research Institute.

Mike co-hosts the popular Fire Engineering radio webcast “The Mikey G and Mikey D Show” and partners with his wife Anne (Firelife.com) to teach strategies for developing and maintaining a strong marriage/family.

The Warriors Breath – is a workshop that combines breathing techniques in detail combining them with other inventive techniques to extend FF “low air” air beyond previously recognized maximum limits. We delve slightly into the psychological aspects of “the job” and how it effects people physically, emotionally, and psychologically. This workshop also utilizes bio-metrics to show real time results in heart rate control.

Bio:

Ric Jorge is a 29 year veteran of the fire service. 24 years as a career firefighter with Palm Beach County, where he commanded engines,ladders, and ambulances during his career until his retirement in January 2019. Ric has delivered lectures and hands on training (H.O.T.) Classes nationally, internationally at several well-known fire conferences across the country.

Ric has also developed several courses which have drawn national interest.

Ric recently retired from the mental health field that he worked in for 13 years. He has facilitated hundreds of groups for uniformed personnel (FF, LEO, Military (combat and non-combat), Treasury, FBI, CIA, Corrections) struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. Being sober throughout his 30 yr career and being diagnosed with PTSD in 2008 Ric bring unique insight into the struggles of shift work from the impetus of PTSD, and other psychological aspects that plague uniformed personnel.

Ric coauthored the book “Developing Firefighter Resiliency” by Penn-well along with Bob Carpenter Miami Dade FD and Dave Gillespie Peterborough Ca. He is published in book chapters of Pennwell “FF 1 & 2 Training Book”, and Dave Dodson & John Normans book “The Art of Reading Buildings”. He has also authored articles for publication in magazines (Fire Engineering and 1st Responder), newsletters (Fire Department Training Network), and on line blogs (The Back-step Firefighter), as well as being on dozens of podcasts internationally.

Some of Ric’s work can be found on Instagram Tactical Resiliency Training LLC, as well as on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn under his name Ric Jorge.

This workshop explores the critical role of leadership in promoting and protecting the mental health of first responders. Participants will learn how effective leadership, open communication, and trust-building create a supportive organizational culture that enhances both well-being and performance. Moving beyond reactive responses to traumatic events, the course emphasizes proactive strategies leaders can implement to foster psychological resilience within their teams. Topics include emerging approaches to suicide prevention, the value of self-care, and the importance of preplanning for personal emergencies. 

The growing impact of PTSD on emergency service professionals will be examined, with discussion on the evidence-based pathways to resilience. The workshop also highlights the value of structured After Action Reviews (AARs) as a tool for both operational improvement and mental health support. Leaders will learn how to use AARs not only to strengthen performance and decision-making but also to provide space for reflection, open dialogue, and peer support in a psychologically safe environment.

Through research-driven insights and practical application, participants will develop skills for building sustainable mental wellness resources. Case studies from high-performance organizations will highlight how leaders can normalize belonging, vulnerability, and psychological safety as cultural cornerstones.Ultimately, the workshop equips fire service leaders with the knowledge and tools to model healthy behaviors, strengthen team resilience, and ensure their members can perform at their highest potential.

Bio: 

Dena Ali is a Battalion Chief with the Raleigh (NC) Fire Department. She also serves as the program manager of Behavioral Health for the First Responder Center for Excellence. Ali holds a degree from North Carolina State University and an MPA from the University of North Carolina—Pembroke, where her research focused on firefighter suicide. She is an Executive Fire Officer Program graduate through the National Fire Academy. Throughout her career, she has received several awards, one of the most notable being the NC Office of State Fire Marshal Honor, Courage, and Valor Award. She earned this award for her steadfast efforts to bring awareness to firefighter mental health through her vulnerability. Dena is the author of the Fire Engineering bestselling book Hope out of Darkness ~ A Guide to First Responder Mental Wellness

Bio:

Chief Thompson entered the fire service in 1981. He has been formally practicing leadership and coaching fire officers and firefighters for the last 25 years. Chief Thompson has practiced leadership as an operations officer, training chief, emergency manager, Chief of Department, and Director of Public Safety. Thompson has held a leadership position in 2 volunteer and 5 career fire departments.  Thompson started his paid career assigned to one of the first organized hazardous materials teams in North Texas in 1986. He spent 10 years assigned to busy suburban fire companies, and as a division chief, he  responded regionally to fire and rescue events. Thompson responded to the Delta 191 crash, tornadoes, wildland fires, mass casualty incidents, and a mid-rise building explosion. Thompson has been recognized in the region for his command and control practices.  Chief Thompson began his teaching career in 1986 at Collin College. He has taught at the Texas A&M University Fire School since 1996, and has been a hands on instructor (HOT), workshop, and classroom presenter at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) since 2002. Chief Thompson continues to attend training offerings around the country as a hands-on participant. 

Marriage can either be a passionate, intimate love affair that lasts a lifetime or a toxic, contentious experience that ends in utter heartbreak.  Add in the unique challenges presented by the rough and tumble world of the fire service and making it work can be tough. In this class, real life husband and wife team Mike and Anne Gagliano take an honest, hard-hitting look at what is happening to firefighter marriages and why.  They examine what makes this profession different from any other and how those differences impact marriage.  With their 30 plus years of experience, they will share what they have learned that has helped their marriage stand the test of time and defy the odds.

Bio:

Anne Gagliano is an author, lecturer and spouse of retired Seattle Fire Captain Mike Gagliano for over 40 years. Her Fire Engineering article “What Every Firefighter’s Spouse Should Know” and ongoing contributions to Firelife.com, have inspired couples all over the world to seek a fulfilling, lasting and intimate marriage despite the challenges posed by the fire service.

She and Mike lecture across the country on building and maintaining a strong marriage with principles derived specifically from her three decades- worth of experience as a fire/law enforcement/military wife.  They are co-authors of the bestselling Fire Engineering book “Challenges of the Firefighter Marriage”, that highlights the many joys and challenges of love, fun and passion in a first-responder marriage.