The fire service is undergoing a transformation, one that better recognizes the often-forgotten areas of health and wellness alongside operational effectiveness. After nearly 32 years with the FDNY, I have taken on a new role, the role of managing director at the First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE), a nonprofit affiliate of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Our mission is to address firefighters’ and other first responders’ health, wellness, and safety needs through research, education, and training. This new chapter of my career aligns perfectly with my leadership philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of addressing what I call the firefighter’s “blind side.”
