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Linda Willing

Leading the Team

Linda Willing is a retired career fire officer and currently works with emergency services agencies and other organizations on issues of leadership development, decision-making and diversity management. She was an adjunct instructor and curriculum advisor with the National Fire Academy for over 20 years. Willing is the author of On the Line: Women Firefighters Tell Their Stories and was co-founder of Women in the Fire Service. Willing has a bachelor’s degree in American studies, a master’s degree in organization development and is a certified mediator. She is a member of the FireRescue1/Fire Chief Editorial Advisory Board. Connect with Willing via email.

LATET ARTICLES
Allowing gossip to spread in the fire service creates an atmosphere of distrust
The millennial generation is immersed in technology, and can use their skills to achieve success in the modern-day fire service
Good-spirited jesting that is leadership sanctioned, inclusive and based on mutual admiration can be funny and benefit the community
Be proactive and intentional, with a facilitator who understands fire culture and sexual harassment law when providing firefighter training
New TV series on first responders falls flat with the fire service, bows to stereotypes and inaccuracies
Harassment is an ongoing pattern and can only happen when others stand by silently and let it
Rude humor may go with the territory, but hurtful jokes can result in dismissal
Fire truck runs over obstacle that turns out to be sleeping college student
A commitment to diversity and inclusion must be practiced and reaffirmed constantly in both behavior and underlying culture
“Chief Bruno” leaves a legacy of improving customer service and enacting change in the fire service