Being Chief: Leadership Principles for the ARFF Professional

 

Today, I announce the launch of my new book, Being Chief: Leadership Principles for the ARFF Professional. This is the first, and only, book dedicated to leadership for the aircraft rescue firefighter.

Why did I write this book?

As the leaders and the experienced in our profession age out, we are forever losing their wisdom and shared knowledge. Private industry realizes this and tries to capture that knowledge through, what is referred to as, “knowledge management”.

Knowledge management can be simply defined as, “the process of capturing, distributing, and effectively using knowledge.”  Knowledge management is taking advantage of what is known to maximize an organization’s value, or a department’s value to the community. Of knowledge, there are two types, explicit and implicit. Explicit knowledge is data, facts, and captured documentation. Implicit is the knowledge that exists in the heads of people and is only acquired over time through education and experience. This implicit knowledge becomes codified when it is shared through discussions or documentation.

Being Chief is a best effort to jump start a formal knowledge management process in the ARFF industry. For this book, interviews, surveys, and follow-up conversations were conducted from more than thirty ARFF chiefs and leaders. 

The book is divided into three parts:

Part 1: Leadership Lessons. Common themes, advice, lessons learned from these conversations are compiled and shared in this section.

Part 2: “In their own words…”. This section includes the full interview, survey responses, and personal stories from these leaders.

Part 3: Leading On. This section identifies mentors that have gone before, the value of mentoring, and provides recommended resources for leadership development.

  

What can you learn from reading this book?

There are many books on fire service leadership, and many more on leadership in general, however, this is the only book that focuses on leadership within the unique niche industry of the  aircraft rescue and firefighting environment.  

Being Chief will prepare the ARFF professional for a leadership role by enabling them to:

• Know the most valuable traits an ARFF chief or leader must possess

• Understand the five actions an ARFF leader must apply for maximum leadership impact

• Hear directly from the voice of experience of those who have excelled in the industry

• Prepare for a major aircraft incident response and post-incident effects

Being Chief is a tool for the ambitious and forward-thinking ARFF professional. This is a tool to be used for gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to achieve their leadership goals. By reading and learning from the years of experience shared here, the gap to achieving a leadership mindset can be decreased.

Order here, https://amzn.to/3cfJaZG

Affecting Change Through Codes and Standards

There are currently more than 200 companies developing air taxis and electric vertical take-off and lift aircraft for the urban air mobility space. Robots pick, package, and ship our online orders. Specific to fire protection we have new revolutionary fire extinguisher designs, electronically activated fire sprinkler heads, artificial intelligence for fire and building codes and standards, fire protection systems that don’t require any type of agent, specialized tools to move the industry forward.  We are rapidly moving into a real future only seen in sci-fi movies, and closing in on a “Jetson’s like” existence. 

The innovative fire protection solutions for these emerging technologies will be driven by the codes and standards that regulate them.  As an innovative entrepreneur, manufacturer, or developer you understand your product and the unique problem that it solves. You know your fire protection solution is better than what already exists. Even though this is true, without a code or standard that permits the use and implementation of the solution, it will not be approved for use by local fire code officials, or the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). This brief guide, Affecting Change Through Codes and Standards, will:

• Provide an introduction to code making bodies
• Outline the code development process
• Reveal how to avoid a denied code change proposal
• Demonstrate a plan for monitoring and tracking these codes and standards

Download your FREE copy here

Industry Affairs for Fire Protection - more important now than ever

 

“Industry affairs” is all about relationships.

It's all about building relationships, strengthening relationships, and maintaining relationships. Most importantly, as in any relationship, it's letting people know who you are, what you represent, and that you want to have a relationship with them. The industry affairs team is responsible for connecting you and your solution with all of the necessary stakeholders. This is primarily accomplished through the vehicle of communication.

Communication with stakeholders must be clear, concise, and adaptable. This communication must be effective in creating and working through compromise, competing interests, and conflict. The industry affairs leader must serve the role of “futurist”, having the ability to look ahead and respond accordingly.This communication component plays three important roles in industry affairs - awareness, education, implementation.

• Awareness - this is your introduction to the relationship. It identifies the problem and your unique solution. 
• Education - the relationship is becoming more intimate. This encompasses training and conversations that go in-depth on the solution so that stakeholders have a strong grasp on the concept. 
• Implementation - these are those deep relational bonds, a marriage even, or complete immersion. All the stakeholders are on board, both parties in the relationship are operating from the same position, and are all headed in the same direction. 

There is no field in which this is more critical, than in fire protection codes and standards. Building and fire code change cycles occur every three to five years, and are a consensus based process. As such, this means that the technology, your innovative fire protection solution, will outpace the codes and standards that will regulate it. Having an industry affairs leader on your team ensures that you are equipped with the most current and correct information, enabling you to create and implement plans and directions for your fire protection solution or technology. Me and my team specialize in working with clients who present innovative solutions to fire protection challenges. 

What my team can do for you and your organization?

• Identify issues, develop positions, and gather industry intelligence
• Quickly and accurately show the benefits or consequence of regulatory proposals
• Provide consistent, coherent, and proactive communication in support of your solutions and technology
• Understand how to address and respond to regulatory issues

How can we accomplish this?

• Monitor codes, standards, and industry developments
• Represent your interests at meetings and committees (NFPA, ICC, other as necessary)
• Draft and submit code change proposals
• Coordinate with other internal divisions and external interests 
• Ensure a rapid and accurate response to all inquiries
• Provide regular updates on all industry activities

Examples of our work

• Emerging technology. Work to bring stakeholders together, analyze risks and code compliance gaps, and draft and develop fire protection requirements for these industries (eVTOL, Hyperloop, and robotic systems).
• Aviation industry. Work to educate on alternative means and methods for hangar fire protection, develop codes and standards to support these methods, and work collaboratively to gain compliance through a performance-based design process.
• Passive fire protection industry. Work to raise awareness of what they do, and what the current code requirements are. Educate code officials, architects, and engineers, on code compliance and proper use of the particular solution. Draft and implement new code change proposals.
• Fire suppression industry. Work to educate users, installers, and code officials on products, services, and code compliant installations and maintenance. Represent companies and services on committees and to external stakeholders.

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Aviation Fire Prevention - is it time for an advanced credentialing program?

In the fire service, we have advanced certifications and credentialing for almost every niche within the industry. There is the beginning required certifications of, EMT and firefighter. Progressing on to advanced level training of paramedic or officer level certifications.  Then there is specialty training on truck operations, technical rescue, hazardous materials, and ARFF. Beyond these, at the highest levels there is credentialing through organizations such as the Center for Public Safety Excellence.  The world of aviation firefighting is no different. In this niche industry we have the basic ARFF certification, we have ARFF specific officer certifications, and specialty training programs. We have credentialing as an A.M.F. through the ARFFWG and AAAE.  The ARFF training and educational path is further clarified through the ARFF Professional Development Framework Manual.  

When it comes to the area of fire prevention, especially in aviation, there is no established path or further specialized training. The same requirements for a fire inspector for the municipal structural department is all that is required for the airport and ARFF department. However, the environment, challenges, hazards, systems, processes, and code applications can be very different. Fire prevention in the ARFF environment is a specialized field and should require an advanced (or additional) level of training to ensure basic competence and understanding of the hazards and code applications that will apply. 

I have created a draft program outline. The program is called the Aviation Fire Prevention Credentialing Program. What follows is a brief outline of the program. The complete program and proposed curriculum can be downloaded here.

The program is divided into two credentials -- Aviation Fire Inspector (AFI), and the Aviation Fire Prevention Officer (AFPO).  The point-of-entry for this program is certification (State/IFSAC/ICC/ProBoard) as a Fire Inspector I, Fire Inspector II, and three years of experience in fire prevention or ARFF.

The first level of credentialing is the Aviation Fire Inspector (AFI). 

AFI credential program prerequisites:

• Certified as Fire Inspector I/II (State/IFSAC/ICC/ProBoard)
• Three years of experience in fire prevention or ARFF

The process for becoming a credentialed AFI is as follows:

• Submit application
• Application is reviewed and approved
• Candidate must register for and attend the 24 hour ‘Aviation Fire Inspector Course’ 
• Pass the class final exam with at least an 75%
• Credential awarded

The next level of credentialing is the Aviation Fire Prevention Officer (AFPO) credential. This credential is designed for the highest ranking fire prevention official, with program management and leadership responsibilities.

AFPO credential program prerequisites:

• Successful completion of AFI credential.
• Minimum of Fire Officer 1 certification (Fire Officer 2 recommended)
• Minimum of 5 years experience in ARFF and/or fire prevention.

The process for becoming a credentialed AFPO is as follows:

• Submit application
• Application is reviewed and approved
• Completion of 24 hour ‘Aviation Fire Prevention Officer Course’ 
• Pass the class final exam with at least an 75%
• Completion and presentation of an applied research paper (management, case study, proposal, project)
• Credential awarded

Download the full program and curriculum here.

What are your thoughts? Is it time for a credentialing program? Do you see a need for this type of training, credentialing process? I am looking for your feedback. Please comment below, or contact me directly at, thecodecoach@gmail.com.

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