The 2024 Spring Command Officer Training will focus on best practices, lessons learned, actual incidents, and near misses of firefighter Line of Duty Deaths (LODDs).
Guest speaker, John Tippett is a retired Montgomery County, MD Safety Battalion Chief, former Charleston, SC Fire Department Operations Deputy Chief and the current Director of Fire Service Programs for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Chief Tippett will present an overview of the five (5) recurring themes in firefighter LODDs. In addition, Chief Tippett will cover the concept and importance of remaining "properly oriented" to a situation, applying the mindset of "Risk Dominance" and provide the tools and strategies needed to successfully produce a progressive, consciously intent-driven fire officer and crew better prepared to resolve and survive emergency operations.
Guest speaker, Thomas Richardson is a retired FDNY Chief of Department. In his keynote presentation, Chief Richardson will give insight on his personal lessons learned on LODDs as an Incident Commander. Chief Richardson will also provide a detailed analysis of how LODD incident investigations can assist in improving an organization's policy and tactical procedures. Additionally, Chief Richardson will provide a personal perspective on how the FDNY performs internal fatal fire investigations, how the lessons learned and recommendations are implemented, and how policy is impacted. Chief Richardson will conclude with a detailed perspective on how after-action reviews (AARs) of serious fires and emergencies can provide lessons learned to prevent future LODDs.