Who is the Company Officer?

MAY 22, 2015 | COLUMNISTS, COMPANY OFFICER, DOUG CLINE, LEADERSHIP, UNCATEGORIZED | DOUGCLINE | NO COMMENTS

Who is the Company Officer? That is a good question. Let me introduce you to who this individual really is. Below I have created a list describing the company officer. This list will introduce you to who the company officer really is and the many critical roles they have in the fire service.

The Company Officer:

First level of supervisor
A critical role player in creating change
Individuals who can influence the fire service delivery of the department on a daily basis.
They are the first point of contact with the public and the first to arrive on emergency scenes.
They are the ones who begin the critical decision making process on emergency scenes.
The first supervisor who begins the addressing of a personnel problem.
Have a strong influence on the morale of the crew and the organization.
They ensure constant response readiness
Implement and support change
The true trainers of the fire service
Enforcer of policies
Coach
Mentor
Cheerleader for their personnel and the organization
Carries out procedures and directives
Officer most likely to watch out for the welfare of the personnel
Evaluator
Team member
Instructor
Problem solver

It is important to understand just how significant this officer role is in the success of an organization. In fact it is the most critical officer role in the fire service. When you step up to a company officer level, it is the most significant step you will ever take in your fire service career as you now accept responsibility for others in the organization.

Christopher J. Naum, SFPE

A 39-year fire service veteran and highly regarded national instructor, author, lecturer and fire officer, he is a distinguished authority on Building Construction & Firefighting issues affecting the fire and emergency services and has traveled throughout the United States and internationally delivering training programs on building construction, command risk management and fire suppression operational practices and methodologies. A well-respected Tactical Theorist, he is a former architect & fire protection engineer and recipient of numerous awards and commendations and was the 1987 ISFSI George D. Post National Fire Instructor of the Year.

Douglas Cline

Douglas Cline is a 35-year veteran and an Assistant Chief of Professional Development with Horry County Fire Recue, South Carolina. Chief Cline is the past President International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI), past President of the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs (SEAFC), a member of the South Carolina and North Carolina Society of Fire and Rescue. A National Fire Academy Instructor and an EMT-Paramedic instructor, he was the 2000 International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI), George D. Post International Instructor of the Year. Chief Cline further hosts “Fire and Training” blog talk radio show on Fire Engineering and “The Chief’s trumpet”, the Official pod cast for the Southeast Association of Fire Chiefs and is a highly regarded instructor and author.