Gasaway Consulting Group Associates

Richard B. Gasaway, Ph.D. entered the fire service in 1979 and has served as firefighter, paramedic, lieutenant, captain, assistant
chief and fire chief in 6 fire and EMS agencies in West Virginia, Ohio and Minnesota.

In addition to his fire service career, Chief Gasaway founded the Gasaway Consulting Group in 1992. The Group’s associates
focus their efforts toward helping organizations and leaders learn and grow, sharpen their focus, solve problems, facilitate change,
improve motivation, understand human behavior, enhance safety, improve efficiency and maximized productivity. In 2009, Chief
Gasaway founded the Center for the Advancement of Situation Awareness and Decision Making, an organization dedicated to
improving how individuals, teams and organizations make decisions in stressful environments.

Chief Gasaway holds bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in finance, economics, business administration and leadership. He
is a resident faculty member at the National Fire Academy and is an instructor in the Executive Development Program for the
Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and is an
Accredited Chief Fire Officer through the Commission for Public Safety Excellence.

As a professional speaker and author, Dr. Gasaway has contributed to more than 130 books, book chapters and journal articles
on topics related to leadership, safety and decision making. He has been invited to give over 500 presentations and keynote
addresses on leadership and safety topics to audiences throughout the United States, Canada, The United Kingdom, The
Netherlands, Australia and Borneo.

Dr. Gasaway had been the recipient of several prestigious honors including the American Heart Association’s Phoenix Award, the
C. B. Shingleton Academic Scholarship, the William J. Litzinger Outstanding Instructor Award, and the British Fire Journal – W.L.
Gore Research Excellence Award. He can

Chief Gasaway hosts the Leader’s Toolbox on Firehouse.com – a monthly podcast radio program that addresses leadership
challenges in emergency services. The program has been downloaded more than 100,000 times, making it one of the most
popular fire service podcast radio shows on the Internet.

CLICK HERE to view Dr. Gasaway's Curriculum Vitae
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Chief Eddie Buchanan began his fire service career in 1982 and currently serves as the division chief of operations for Hanover
(VA) Fire & EMS. Hanover is a large combination system, consisting of more than 150 career personnel and 300 active volunteer
emergency responders. Chief Buchanan is the author of the Volunteer Training Officer’s Handbook from Fire Engineering Books
& Videos and co-author of the Volunteer/Combination Officer’s Section (VCOS) of the International Association of Fire Chief’s Red
& White Ribbon Reports on leading combination and volunteer systems. He also co-authored the Orange Ribbon Report on fire-
based emergency medical services.

Eddie currently serves as President of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and is a past board member of the
VCOS. He serves on the advisory board for Fire Corps and Target Safety. He also serves on the Technical Committee on Fire
Services Training for the National Fire Protection Association. He is “Chief Learning Officer” for Leading With Attitude Consulting
Services, providing training and leadership training.

Eddie has an associate’s degree in fire science, and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Richmond with a
Bachelors degree in Human Resources Management and focus in leadership. He continues his postgraduate education at the
University of Richmond, seeking a master’s degree in Disaster Sciences.

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Chief George Esbensen has served as a fire chief and director of emergency management since 2002. Chief Esbensen brings a
strong foundation of leadership in the private sector that he draws upon to help clients address public safety challenges. He has
served as a Senior Account Executive for the Miner Group, Vice President of Sales for Twin Cities Litho, and president of Cycle
Software Services.

Chief Esbensen's professional affiliations include: Adjunct Faculty for Hennepin Technical College, President of the Metropolitan
Fire Chiefs Association, Past President of the Hennepin Fire Chiefs Association, - Minnesota Fire Chiefs Association, Minnesota
Fire Instructor's Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Southwest Mutual Aid Association, Rotary International, and
Phi Theta Kappa.
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Chief Richard C. Kline has served as a fire chief since 1992. Chief Kline holds a Masters Degree in Public Safety and has attained
accreditation as a CFO. Chief Kline is a frequent contributor to professional publications and has presented on a variety of
leadership and firefighter safety topics. Chief Kline is the chairman for the Minnesota State Fire Chief Association’s Safety and
Health Committee.
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Bio will be posted soon.
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Chief William Ball joined the fire service in 1979 as a junior firefighter in West Virginia. He is currently serving as Chief of
Williamsport Volunteer Fire – Emergency Medical Services. Williamsport Fire – EMS is a combination emergency service
organization with 60 plus active operational and support with members with full time Advance Life Support providers. He has been
Chief for 10 years and has held all operational ranks in the department. Chief Ball’s full time career is being a firefighter with the
City of Hagerstown Fire Department in Hagerstown, Maryland assign to Truck Company No. 4.

Chief Ball has taught fire, EMS, rescue and officer development programs since 1986. Chief Ball also currently serves as an
Adjunct Instructor for the Hagerstown Fire Department Training Academy. Chief Ball also coordinates the Washington County Fire
and Rescue Association Fire-Rescue Academy for junior and senior high school students. Chief Ball has served as the Chiefs
Operations Committee Chairperson and County Standards Committee.

He is a graduate from Shepherd College, with a degree in Fire Science and Safety Technology and is certified by the National and
Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications Board as a Firefighter III, Fire Officer 4, Hazardous Materials First Responder at
the Operational Level, Hazardous Materials Incident Commander, Vehicle and Machinery Rescue Technician, Confined Space
Rescue Technician and is a graduate of University of Maryland’s National Fire Service Staff & Command Program.

Our Team