By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer Pick up almost any fire service trade journal or visit most industry websites and you’ll hear a familiar refrain: leaders in the U.S. fire service are telling us that a “new normal” emerged from the Great Recession of 2008. What I find far less often, however, is a serious discussion about what that new ...

Why Fire Service Leaders Need a Dedicated Field of Fire Psychology By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer and FSPA Operations Chief Visit FSPA at www.firepsychology.org Most fire service leaders in the U.S. and Canada understand better than anyone that organizational readiness, operational effectiveness, and firefighter well being are inseparable. Yet the national infrastructure supporting psychological services for firefighters in both ...

Sponsored Content: First Responder Behavioral Health Institute By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer The First Responder Behavioral Health Institute (FRBHI) is breaking new ground with its transformative course, Medicine Song: Spiritual Healing and the Psychedelic Renaissance. Designed to bridge ancient wisdom and modern science, this program explores the profound role of music and spirituality in healing, while diving into the ...

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer Since 1966, most states have changed the clocks twice a year to save an hour of daylight. Love it or hate it, daylight saving time ends again on Sunday, November 2, 2025. When you fall back an hour, I want you to take one simple action that could save lives: Practice your family’s Home ...

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer This post originally appeared back in 2020, so I know that it likely needs updating. If your firefighter camp for girls is listed, please make sure what’s here is still relevant. If your camp is not listed, please send me an email with a short description and the URL to rpa1157@gmail.com. So, the other ...

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer In the past, many folks have asked me “What’s your purpose for getting on LinkedIn?” That’s still the right question—but the answers have evolved. Today, LinkedIn isn’t just a place to find a job or build a contact list. It’s a platform for: Shaping professional narratives Building coalitions across disciplines Amplifying advocacy and thought ...

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer Networking is still the lifeblood of professional growth—but the circulatory system has evolved. It’s no longer just about collecting contacts or broadcasting updates. Today, networking is about building trust, curating relevance, and showing up consistently in the spaces where your voice matters. Here’s a refreshed action plan that goes beyond the basics. 🧭 Step ...

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer What does “digital networking” really mean today? I won’t pretend I’m a guru (though I did once survive a conference hotel breakfast buffet). What I do know, I’ve learned the same way I’ve gained most of my professional insight: reading, listening, trying, failing, and trying again. Repeat. Here’s what I’ve picked up—so you can ...

By: Margaret Gavian, Ph. D, Guest Blogger Original graphic by Robert Avsec created using Microsoft Copilot AI (I’m working and learning how to use AI responsibly!). Lately, I’ve been notified of an onslaught of critical calls happening across the departments I serve – multiple suicides, drownings, burn victims, violent scenes, brutal accidents. You name it, it’s happening. These aren’t rookie ...

By: William Hux, Chief Fire Marshal, Va. State Fire Marshals Office, Va. Fire Marshal Academy Note From Chief Avsec: Another great post from my Guest Blogger, William Hux! Buckle up ’cause it’s gonna be a heck of ride! The author at FDIC 2025 in Indianapolis. Don’t pretend control is the same thing as leadership, it’s not. In the fire service, ...