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Andrew Klein is a 23-year fire service veteran, working for a department on California’s Central Coast and in Southern California. He has served as a hotshot, firefighter, engineer, truck company tillerman and, most recently, an engine company captain. Klein has published his photography with several publications, including FireRescue1.com, Firehouse Magazine, FireRescue Magazine and JEMS. Klein has also served as a USAR regional task force team member, training officer, and honor guard commander. He can be reached at fireshot207@gmail.com.

Alex Boyd serves as the assistant chief of fire programs within the Anchorage (Alaska) Fire Department. Boyd began his fire service career in 1995 in Alaska. After working as a firefighter through college and becoming certified as a paramedic, Boyd accepted a position as a career firefighter-paramedic. Through his career, Boyd has had the opportunity to serve in each rank up through assistant chief.

Dave Downey is the Deputy Coordinator for the Statewide Emergency Response Plan (SERP) for ESF 4/9 in the State of Florida. He is a 37-year veteran of the fire service having spent over 30 years with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the last six as the fire chief, retiring in 2019. Chief Downey serves as the chair of the International Association of Fire Chief’s US&R Committee and is a task force leader with FL-TF1, having responded to disasters across the world, including the World Trade Center, Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Lt. Chaz Michael Moore joined the fire service in 2006. He has worked on several engine and ladder companies and, for a short time, a technical rescue team. In 2017, Moore was promoted to lieutenant. The same year, he also founded Victor Company, a nonprofit for firefighters of color. Named after an early Black volunteer fire department in 1870, Victor Company focuses on community service and brotherhood/sisterhood. In 2020, Victor Company proposed several positions to an area fire department, and two were ultimately created – recruiter and equity officer. In September 2021, Moore was appointed to be the fire department’s recruiter, PIO and equity liaison.

George L. Thomas IV worked 20 years for the Frederick County (Maryland) Division of Fire and Rescue and retired on April 1, 2018, at the rank of captain. Thomas graduated from the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program in 2009 and later became an instructor for the Executive Analysis of Community Risk Reduction at the NFA as well as a committee member for the NFA Executive Fire Officer Symposium. He also completed his Fire Officer Designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). Thomas was the first person in his family to become a firefighter.

John Morrison is a 26-year member of the Vienna (Virginia) Volunteer Fire Department, currently serving as volunteer fire chief. He also serves as a Planning Section Chief for Virginia Task Force 1, Fairfax County, Virginia’s international urban search and rescue (USAR) team. Morrison has received several awards, including the 2007 Virginia Governor’s Award for Excellence in Fire Service Management, the 2011 Fairfax County Volunteer Fire Officer of the Year and the 2019 IAFC Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year. He is employed as the civilian Data Analytics Strategy Manager of the Fairfax County (Virginia) Fire and Rescue Department, overseeing professionals in data analytics and GIS.

Kyle Novak is the deputy chief of emergency medical services for the West Allis Fire Department in West Allis, Wisconsin. Kyle has additionally served as a firefighter-paramedic, equipment operator and lieutenant. He has a keen sense for data and analytics, and leverages that to inspire others in innovation and positive change.

E.G. Weiss is nationally active in consequence management consulting, research and development, forensic science and as a security/threat analyst, while continuing to train and speak at conferences.

Joshua Davis is a member of Lexipol’s Fire Content Development Team. He serves as an assistant fire chief/fire marshal with the Leander (Texas) Fire Department. Davis has over 25 years of progressive experience in public safety by way of fire, EMS, law enforcement, government and emergency management, with more than 13 years of experience as a fire marshal and arson investigator. To connect with Davis, visit his LinkedIn.

Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock is senior vice president and director of the Shay Moral Injury Center at Volunteers of America and a leading national expert on moral injury and distress. Volunteers of America is a non-profit organization founded in 1896. One of the country’s most comprehensive human services providers, it serves almost 1.5 million people annually in 46 states including children, families, those with disabilities, those who are incarcerated, veterans, the elderly, the homeless, those with mental health and addiction needs and many more.