The Training Officer

05/28/2026

The best firefighters, officers, instructors, and leaders I've ever met all had one thing in common, they never stopped being students. They understood that growth doesn't happen by accident. It requires discipline, commitment, and a willingness to continually learn.
Self-development isn't just about earning certifications or checking boxes. It's about becoming a better version of yourself personally and professionally. It's about reading when others are scrolling, studying when others are coasting, and pushing yourself to grow even when nobody is watching.

05/23/2026

As many enjoy the long weekend with family, friends, cookouts, and time away, let us not forget the true reason for Memorial Day. This is not just another holiday, it is a time of remembrance for the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Their courage purchased the freedoms we often take for granted. Take a moment this weekend to pause, reflect, and honor those who gave everything so we could have what we have today. 🇺🇸

05/21/2026

Check out last month's Fire Engineering Podcast "The Training Officer" broadcasted from FDIC with guests Danny Arroyo & Jesse Quinalty
https://youtu.be/Fh7iGrdmrqE?si=db11eM6qI01VhqCF

05/17/2026

Check out the Fire Engineering Podcast The Training Officer
https://www.youtube.com/live/0Q5GmiwJFA4?si=vo1NISa7qY8iNRj_

05/16/2026

Get registered, I'll be presenting "Passion in Leading" on June 10th and "From The Firehouse To The Front Seat" on June 11th.
Hope to see you there!

🚨 Company Officer Lecture Track – NOW OPEN 🚨
— only 30 spots offered for this exclusive registration option.

This 2-day officer-focused experience is built for:
✔️ Current Company Officers
✔️ Certified Fire Officers
✔️ Firefighters preparing to promote
✔️ Leaders serious about sharpening their command presence and decision-making

Leadership isn’t given. It’s earned, built, and sharpened.
If you’re serious about leading — this is where you need to be.

🎤 Featuring Sessions With:
• Candace Ashby – “BOSS Series: Management vs Leadership”
• Anthony Avillo – “Full Contact Leadership”
• Dena Ali – “Organizational Leadership and Mental Wellness”
• Joe DeVito – “Thermal Imaging: The Basics to Build On”
• Dave McGlynn – “From the Firehouse to the Front Seat”
• Anthony Gillan – “Are You Ready for the Title?”
• Gregory Flynn – “Management Tactics for the New and Emerging Company Officer”

This isn’t surface-level leadership talk.
This is real-world, experience-driven insight from some of the most respected minds in the fire service.
⸻
Secure your seat before it’s gone:
👉 https://buildyourculture.regfox.com/great-lakes-hot-2026

05/16/2026

Check out the latest Fire Engineering Podcast The Training Officer with this month's guest David Polikoff from The Side Alpha Leadership

On this episode of The Training Officer, host Dave McGlynn sits down with David Polikoff, a retired battalion chief from Montgomery County, Maryland, to disc...

05/13/2026

Submitting to teach at FDIC? Check out this podcast with some tips that may help increase your chances of being selected.

In this episode of The Training Officer, host Dave McGlynn brings together an esteemed panel of veteran fire service instructors to share valuable tips and s...

05/13/2026

Life is full of tough decisions & plenty of highs and lows. Running away from a problem isn’t always the same as moving toward a new opportunity. Sometimes the hardest choice is the one that requires us to slow down, clear our minds, lean on our training, trust our experience, and honestly evaluate what’s best for us, not just what feels easiest in the moment. The best decisions come when emotion and logic are working together, not against each other.

05/04/2026

Today, we don’t just celebrate Star Wars; we honor our firefighters. The ones who show up when it matters most. Take a moment today to thank a firefighter.

05/01/2026

Development doesn’t happen through pressure, neglect, or silence, it’s built through guidance, direction, and positive reinforcement.
People don’t grow when they’re held down, they rise when they’re coached, supported, and given the confidence to improve. Their success is a direct reflection of how we develop them.
If you invest in your people, they will grow, and when they grow, the mission wins.