Crew Resource Management: Principles and Practice

All fire departments are designed to achieve objectives like minimizing the loss of life and property, but few departments that fail to emphasize crew resource management (CRM) principles on an ongoing basis succeed in getting the most out of its various teams to best achieve these goals. Crew Resource Management: Principles and Practice will teach fire department leaders the critical CRM skills needed to get the most out of every individual department member, and to create an entire organization dedicated to the philosophy that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Crew Resource Management: Principles and Practice will help fire department leaders to: eliminate communication barriers within various teams; improve the lines of communication between fire fighters and their superiors; maximize synergies between teams through cross-training while also improving individual performance; and teach situational awareness and decision making skills to help department members succeed in even the most challenging conditions.

Assistant Chief Paul LeSage works for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, an agency serving over 430,000 people in the Portland, OR Metro Region (www.tvfr.com). He has over 30 years of experience as a fire fighter, paramedic, flight paramedic, command officer, and educator, and has degrees in Organizational Communications and Sciences. He is on the faculty at Oregon Health Sciences University as a Clinical Assistant Professor, and lectures nationally in the emerging fields of Fire and EMS Crew Resource Management, Critical Decision Making, High Reliability, and Deployment. Paul also built a publishing business from the ground up, and has authored several Fire and EMS Field Guides, along with articles and book chapters related to deployment and decision making.

Jeff Dyar began his career in the fire service in Brighton, Colorado in 1971 as a volunteer EMT. Since then, he has worked in private, public, academic, military, and federal capacities and has authored four books. Mr. Dyar held the position of Program Chair for EMS, Firefighter Health and Safety, and Counter-terrorism at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD for 12 years. Jeff has worked at some of the largest events in modern history, assisting local response agencies on behalf of FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration, including both World Trade Center events, 18 hurricanes, the Columbine School shooting, and the 2002 Winter Olympics. Jeff was the Chief of Operations for National Emergency Operation Center for FEMA and oversaw dozens of national events. He was recognized by the White House in two administrations for outstanding service, and is a recipient of the James O. Page Award for his national contribution to Fire Service EMS by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Jeff currently resides in southern Colorado and serves as a Fire Commissioner and President of the Board for the Upper Pine Fire Protection District in Bayfield, CO.

Bruce Evans is the EMS Chief at the North Las Vegas Fire Department in Southern Nevada. Mr. Evans is an NFPA Fire Instructor III and coordinates the College of Southern Nevada’s Fire Technology programs teaching various fire and EMS topics. Bruce has over 25 years of experience in a variety of EMS settings and is an adjunct faculty member of the National Fire Academy in the EMS, Incident Management, and Terrorism Training programs. He is the Chair of the National Association of EMTs’ Safety Committee and was appointed to the Safety subcommittee of NHTSA’s National EMS Advisory Committee. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration, a Bachelor’s degree in Education, and an Associate’s in Fire Management. Bruce is a certified faculty member for the International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics training program. Mr. Evans publishes the bi-monthly column, “EMS Viewpoints,” in Fire Chief Magazine and is on the editorial board of for the Journal of Emergency Medical Services. He is also a board member for the Cyanide Treatment Coalition and coordinates the James O. Page Mentorship Program.