Deputy Chief Mark Waters joins us for a deep dive into the leadership tools and resources every firefighter and fire officer should know. With more than 35+ years in the fire service - including 27 years as Deputy Chief of the New London Fire Department - Mark brings a grounded, practical perspective on what it takes to lead.

He shares the leadership books he returns to often, the training models that have influenced his approach, and the lessons he’s learned through decades of on-the-job experience. Whether you’re a new firefighter or a seasoned leader, this episode offers guidance to help you grow, mentor, and inspire the teams around you.

Join us for the first of our 2025 Leadership Series episodes of Critical Conversations. In this episode, we sit down with one of the fire service’s respected leaders - Chief Dennis L. Rubin - for a discussion on Leadership Basics and what it truly means to lead in today’s fire and emergency service organizations.With over 35 years of experience spanning every rank from firefighter/EMT to Fire Chief, Chief Rubin brings unmatched insight into leadership, command, and safety. His impressive career includes serving as Chief of the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department, past President of the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, and chair of the National Wingspread Strategic Planning Conference for over 30 years.Chief Rubin holds multiple degrees in Organizational Leadership and Fire Administration, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, and the author of several acclaimed textbooks including Rube’s Rules for Survival, D.C. Fire, and It’s Always About Leadership.This live broadcast will explore the foundational principles that define great leaders - from integrity and accountability to decision-making under pressure - and how these lessons apply across every level of service.

In our latest episode of Critical Conversations, we sat down with Robert Duvall, the Northeast Regional Director and Fire Investigator at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), to discuss critical issues surrounding electric vehicle fire safety and electrical power storage systems. As the adoption of energy storage systems (ESS) continues to grow, so too must our efforts to mitigate associated risks in this rapidly evolving industry.

Bob shared his expert insight into the unique hazards posed by ESS and electric vehicles, emphasizing the importance of safety measures and proper risk management. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of these emerging technologies and the necessary precautions to ensure safety. To further educate our audience, we encourage you to download information from these resources: https://tinyurl.com/electricfiressafety