Jason Caughey

Volunteer Voice

Jason Caughey is the fire chief of the Laramie County Fire Authority in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and an adjunct professor for Laramie County Community College, where he teaches on the principles of fire behavior. Prior to arriving in Cheyenne in 2011, he was the fire chief of Gore Hill Fire Rescue in Great Falls, Montana. He also spent 10 years working for the Montana Fire Services Training School as a regional instructor and regional training manager for the state of Montana. Caughey has been an active member in the "Kill the Flashover" project, led by Joe Starnes. He is also a current technical member of the UL Positive Pressure test committee and a lead instructor for the Ottawa Project “Knowledge to Practice.” Caughey has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University and is working on his master’s degree in public administration. He is currently attending the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program. Connect with Caughey on LinkedIn or via email.

Full list of Jason Caughey results

Chief Insights: ‘The first 30 days as a fire chief were focused on building trust and listening’
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Reflecting on life-changing moments, decision-making process, and advice to my younger self
What is your fire department scorecard?
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Our department has added a customer service specialist role to help close the loop with our customers and better gauge our performance
Who will draft the new ‘America Burning’ to guide the next 50 years of the fire service?
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Fifty years after the pivotal report, there is clearly still work to be done and new challenges to address for future firefighters
How does your department define a successful team member?
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Identifying a handful of key traits can be a game-changer in fostering a healthy organizational culture
Vision Day: A meeting of the minds to envision your department’s future
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Tips for who to invite, where to hold the meeting and what to discuss at this opportunity for open and honest discussion
‘Best job in the world’: New and seasoned members alike still love the job
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Survey respondents resoundingly recommend a career in the fire service – a vital stat amid growing recruitment challenges
10 simple steps for a successful grant application
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Grants are the lifeline of the volunteer fire service so it’s essential we set ourselves up for success in the application process
4 suggestions for leading today’s volunteer fire service
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Focus on service, ownership, unity and progressiveness to help your organization grow the department
Is it time to change our response model to include a ‘Life Safety Division’?
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Other challenges to the future of the fire service include shift schedule adjustments and rethinking our apparatus
Tips for volunteer fire departments planning MCI drills
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Simple ways to build collaboration among agencies and involve the community
The mayday compromise: Balance training between prevention and rescue
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While self-rescue drills are vital, so too is mayday prevention training focused on fire dynamics, building construction, case studies and technology
Get your training on track: How to manage volunteer fire department training
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How to identify the right trainer, build a program and encourage ownership in the process
How to build a fire family to foster VFD recruitment and retention
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Bringing back family-focused values may be the enticement prospective members seek – or the glue that holds together the organization
How to procure fire apparatus: Simple solutions for volunteer fire departments
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Whether new or used, apparatus costs are skyrocketing, and departments need to develop a plan
Beyond 1041: How to elevate your instruction style to best engage firefighters
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Tips for instructing firefighters via coaching on the training ground, teaching in the classroom or virtual platform, or presenting with PowerPoint
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