The Fire and Safety Industry is primed with opportunities for enhanced engagement, intentionality, and retention.
Our fire and emergency services members should feel pride and ownership throughout their career journey.
We need more people to join our industry, remain engaged, lift others, and become leaders.
The opportunities to be active, learn, and network are infinite, this includes exploring outside of our respective organization.
Several years ago, I was left inspired after reading the Pass It On series by Billy Goldfeder.
This three-book series includes short essays from hundreds of fire and emergency services advocates.
As if the reader had an opportunity to sit at the kitchen table with each of them, have a cup of coffee, and listen.
Reading these pages helped me understand the importance of “Pass It On.”
Additionally, over a decade ago, I attended a Cause & Origin class hosted by our local fire department.
A gentleman was brought in with an extensive background in fire investigations and worked at the state fire marshal’s office.
He shared his background, which included where he attended his doctoral program.
I’d never heard of Valdosta State University.
Shortly after this class I became a student at Valdosta State University, later graduated, and for the past six years have served as a graduate adjunct professor.
We can learn from the experience of others.
Listen to the presenters’ introductions and read the bios; they may help you along your career journey.
My love for fire and emergency services began when I was in high school and became a Fire Explorer for St. Petersburg Fire Rescue.
I then began my career at the Tallahassee Fire Department (FL), during our 8-week orientation one of our Training Lieutenants told everyone in the room, “You need to take the classes when they’re offered, and you need to participate in the promotional assessments when you’re eligible.”
I encourage more leaders to make clear and direct statements; this made pursuing opportunities expected and normal.
Everyone is talented in their unique ways, these talents may positively impact your organization, and this may require courage, being uncomfortable, and making mistakes.
These realities highlight the importance of creating psychological safety in the workplace.
Read The Fearless Organization by Amy C. Edmondson and Ryan Holiday’s three-book series – Ego is the Enemy, Obstacle is the Way, and Stillness is the Key.
Be courageous in action and words, and speak up even when it is difficult.
The ability to effectively communicate, hold the line when needed, and lead by example are attributes that are needed in our industry.
Dr. Lindsay Judah, CFO, CTO, is a Public Safety Consultant at CJ Professional Consulting and the Rescue Chief for a metro-fire agency in Florida.
Dr. Judah is a graduate professor, an advocate for NFFF Everyone Goes Home®, NFR for Cancer, a peer reviewer for CPSE, and an IFSTA Validation Committee member.
The 2025 Influencers Special Edition of Fire and Safety Journal Americas is a collection of some of the most influential voices across the fire and safety industry.
Together, they provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments, challenges, and forward-looking insights shaping the global fire and safety sector.
