Testimonials

This is just a small sampling of the feedback I have received. Thank you to everyone for sharing your kind words and support for
my programs, books, videos, articles, webinars and podcasts. Your feedback inspires me to work even harder.
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"Thank you for adding us to your long list of missions. I always tell the 'Top Shelf' people in our industry (the ones who continually
make a contribution), that it is easy to quantify firefighter injuries and line of duty deaths but it's not so easy to quantify injuries and
line of duty deaths prevented. For you, that 'difficult to quantify' number is likely a VERY large figure, and growing...  Keep up the
great work!"

Dave McGrail
District Chief
Denver Fire Department
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"Chief Gasaway, I really enjoyed your class and plan to use elements of your class in my upcoming Shift Officer meeting.  I am a
newly promoted Battalion Chief, and this was a great class to attend after this promotion. I understand my chief is working on
getting you to teach a session for northern Colorado.  I hope to see you again."

Michael Cerovski
Battalion Chief - B Shift
Loveland Fire Department
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Feedback from participants of the Indiana Company Officer Institute program held in Fort Wayne, August 9-13, 2010.

  • “Thank you for motivating us to always reach for the sky. This was a great class!”
  • “Thank you for sharing your time, passion and wisdom. ‘What we allow, we endorse.’ As a leader I promise I will not hesitate
    to step out and speak up.”
  • “I had a great time in this class and I will definitely take a lot of this information back and use it in my station.”
  • “Thank you for taking your time to help provide us with skills needed to become stronger leaders”
  • “This was the best certification class I have ever taken – you know your material! Our department will be better for this class.”
  • “Thank you for all the information. It will be very helpful in advancing my career.”
  • “Thanks for the inspiration to help me realize I can be a better leader and for providing the tools to get the job done.”
  • “Thank you for sharing your experience, time and passion. This was a great class!”
  • “This class was a great investment of my time!”
  • “Thanks for your commitment to advance the quality and safety of the fire service. Great class!”
  • “This was a great learning experience. The class participation that you achieved was very inspiring to me as an instructor.”
  • “I truly believe that what I learned this week will help me throughout my career.”
  • “Thank you for your insight and advice. I appreciate your dedication to the fire service."
  • "Your lessons and examples will make Fort Wayne a better department.”
  • “I appreciate the class was run in  a way that allowed us to freely participate. I enjoyed the class and will use thing from the
    class in my station."
  • “Thank you for the uplifting, positive and motivating start to my career!”

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Feedback from participants of the Indiana Company Officer Institute program held in Evansville, June 28-July 2, 2010.

  • "Great class. Excellent instructor."
  • "Leadership rocks!"
  • "You showed us everyone can make a difference, but we have to do it!"
  • "Thanks for the excellent class."
  • "Best class to date."
  • "This was an excellent class. I hope I can use what I have learned to become a better leader."
  • "Thanks for the great leadership class (ethics too)."
  • "Thanks for showing that all ranks have challenges but we all have a common goal."
  • "Amazing class. Fun to find leadership is learning. Keep your tops spinning!"
  • "One of the best classes ever. Thanks!"
  • "Plenty of insight and well-presented. Thanks for helping us make a difference."
  • "You opened my eyes on many issues."
  • "Your class will stay with me for a long time."
  • "I believe you have made a difference in all of us."
  • "The class was a wonderful beginning to this department’s transformation."
  • "This class helped us understand that we are all leaders. Thank you for helping us look in the mirror."
  • "Thanks for the great class. I learned a great deal."
  • "This class was one of the best I have attended. It seemed to be developed just for our department."
  • "Thank you for the privilege of being part of this class."
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"I have to say, that was the best IC seminar I have attended in the Last 5 years.  Makes you think back over what you have
accomplished and gives me a better insight into why I reacted certain ways to emergencies in the past. For example: I am an
incident commander in a Petrochemical Plant, I have no issue in dealing with Hydro Carbon releases, Fires, explosions, Rescues
etc.  My hardest response to deal with was a grass fire in rail.  I had no subconscious memories to help me deal with that one, kind
of like doing the alphabet backwards.  We had no water, no resources, and it was frustrating.  I finally had my crew grab a bunch of
snow shovels and rakes to get it out the old fashioned way.  While doing the seminar I had to chuckle because it all made sense."

Roger McPherson
Shift Supervisor
Nova Chemicals
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"Dr. Gassaway, I appreciated the fact that you were up all night and presented so well. Your  presentation was excellent.  Your
book Fire Ground Decision Making, Understanding the Barriers, Challenging command Situation Awareness is excellent and sits
along side my other Command books."

Bruce Morrison
Sarnia, Ontario CA

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"This type of comprehensive program has long been missing from our industry.   Only once or twice I became a bit defensive but
your message quickly drew me back to accepting certain factors of human nature we all possess.  The challenge of striking the
right cord in your message had to be enormous.  I congratulate you for hitting every note perfectly.  Thank you again for your time
and efforts.  This morning at shift briefing I began the discussion to “pay it forward” the lessons we learned from you. Best of luck
and may you be blessed in the future."

Robert W. Eick  CFO
Fire Chief & Emergency Manager
City of Port Huron
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A sampling of evaluation comments from the 2010 National Fire Service Staff & Command Program
Sponsored by: The Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute and the International Association of Fire Chiefs
(NOTE: Evaluations are submitted anonymously by the program participants).

  • "Speaker and topic were excellent.  Should be done every year."
  • "Great job, very informative, and a great benefit to all in fire service."
  • "Keep him coming back every year."
  • "Excellent presentation!  Great “flow”, knowledgeable!"
  • "I will be purchasing DVD set!"
  • "Very passionate presentation, great info, great presenter."
  • "Cutting edge curriculum!"
  • "Instructor would be better utilized with more time. He has a lot of good information to share if given more time."
  • "A very dynamic presentation on an interesting and important topic."
  • "Great subject.  Probably at a level above what we expected."
  • "Articulate and dynamic presenter.  This program should consider him for a full day presentation."
  • "Well put together topic, was great but class was too short."
  • "He needed more time; he should be a 1-day speaker."
  • "Thoroughly enjoyed his presentation."
  • "Excellent lecture and useful information!"
  • "Great job!"
  • "Finest of all the speakers."
  • "I am going to go back and request my department sponsor this course!"
  • "Very good class!"
  • "Excellent presentation!"
  • "I will be looking to hire Mr. Gasaway in the future at home!  Excellent!"
  • "Could’ve used more time with Dr. G."
  • "Outstanding!  Must keep in the program!"
  • "Great presentation!  Should be included in future classes."
  • "Richard did a great job!"
  • "The best overall presentation to this point in the program!  
  • "Consider turning this program into a full day session, or continue it into the evening (optional after a dinner break)."
  • "The fire service needs more educated advocates like Mr. Gasaway!"
  • This was by far the best topic and the best speaker of the week!"
  • "I think that you should dedicate a full day to this topic and speaker."
  • "Would like to see him allotted a full day."
  • "Great speaker, kept my attention, great subject."
  • "A great presentation!"
  • "This program really helped in my situation awareness!"
  • "This program really impacted a key part of my job."
  • "Chief Gasaway taught to our level and challenged us."
  • "Very good job, very good presentation!"
  • "Awesome – should have been a full 8 hours.  
  • "Great class, should be done every year!"
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Rich,

"I am so impressed with your seminar I just wanted to say thank you. As you know our department suffered the loss of two brothers
last February and when we received the information on the seminar we were skeptical about attending, but after we realized what
your message was we were very happy we did. You asked that we pay forward and to let you know this coming Monday I have set-
up a training for my department using the information I received from you. As a matter of fact I would like for you to send
information to set-up a seminar for our county, I think it is a good thing and would like to share it with all my fellow fire departments
as well. I was so excited to be able to tell you all this that I almost forgot why I am sending you this e-mail, I got the invoice (for
books and videos) and the check will be in the mail tomorrow. Once again thank you so much for your teachings and thank you for
taking the time to share your knowledge with us."

Patti Blake
C.B.C. Volunteer Fire Department
REF: Fifty Ways to Kill a Firefighter program, Gilmer County, WV
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"Having worked in public safety for most of my life, I joined the corporate world 5 years ago. While my current position is very
similar, the methods in which I handle direct reports are very different. I have had to adapt my management style into one that
emulates corporate needs. Recently, I experienced a communication problem with my direct reports; one that caused me to
question if I was cutout for the corporate management role. I spoke with Dr. Gasaway who was able to provide me with clear
direction thus resolving my communications problem with my staff. Through Gasaway’s coaching and expertise, I was able to
prevent my own “crash and burn” and get my staff back on par. Today, we are a more productive Team not only due to this
coaching but through suggested methods in identifying and heading off future communications issues. Thank you Dr. Gasaway!"

Mike Mudrick
Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack
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"You are right on target when you focus on situational awareness as the most important strategic and tactical lesson from
Charleston... Keep on spreading the word. There are still lives to be saved!"

Gordon Routley, Fire Service Consultant
Project Leader, Charleston Sofa Super Store Firefighter Fatality Investigation Report
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"I really enjoyed your class. It sure made a lot of sense out of what we see everyday but don’t completely understand how or why
we decide certain things."

Mike Woelke
REF: Fifty Ways to Kill a First Responder at Spokane, Washington
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"Dr. Gasaway, You are an inspiration. I loved your class. I wish we had more chief officers in there. I will pay it forward to our chiefs.
Thanks so much for your contribution to fire fighter safety."

Andreas “AJ” Johansson, Firefighter-Paramedic
City of Corona Fire Dept.
REF: Fifty Ways to Kill a First Responder, California Fire Chiefs Training Officer's Symposium. Fresno, California
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"Sir it was a great presentation and an honor to hear you speak with in depth knowledge. I read half the Fireground Command
book on my way home yesterday. We'll keep you in mind for our county school next May. I wish you a happy holiday season and
stay safe.

Fire Chief Gary Sacco
New Gloucester Fire & Rescue
REF: Fireground Command Decision Making, VCOS Symposium, Clearwater Beach, Florida
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"Dr. Rich: I was reading some of your articles on Firehouse today, I was very impressed you truly are on the leading edge in the
fire service too long we have used the old adage "we have always done it this way".  Every officer should be required to take your
leadership course before they become a chief officer, our younger generation will not respond to the old ways of doing it and the
fire service is going to have to find new ways of attracting volunteers or volunteer fire departments will be a think of the past.
Wishing you success in everything you do, you have truly earned it."

Fire Chief (ret.) Ron Boman
Brooklyn Center Fire Department
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"Chief Gasaway, I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and walked away more observant.  I will consider you when we do our
training.  I looked at your calendar and you are pretty booked.  Great job and keep up the great work.  Thanks again."

Jonathan D. Howard, Sr., Deputy Fire Chief 16A
Bowie Volunteer Fire Department
REF: Fireground Command Decision Making program, VCOS Symposium, Clearwater Beach, Florida
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"I wanted to drop you a note and say thanks for coming to the RESA conference with your presentation. Seminars such as yours
help me to "re energize" myself, and help remind me what the big picture really contains. (It amazing how easy it is to lose that
vision as the years progress). Classes such as yours help me put it in perspective. I also just finished your "On Fire, About
Leadership" book. Great piece of work......I'm sure I will wear the cover off of it over the next few years. Hopefully I will get the
opportunity to make the ESCAPE conference next year. I'd enjoy that chance to hear you speak again."

Mark Caravasos
Morgantown Fire Department
REF: Fifty Ways to Kill a First Responder presented at the ASSET Conference
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"Thank you, I appreciate you sharing your research and allowing me to use the information within my training division.  I will add
your presentation (Sierra Fire)  information to our training memos and put it on our training schedule.   I will contact Chief Greene
to inquire about availability within the class.  Thanks again, and we will absolutely keep you in mind for future presentations."

Chief Tamara Lopes
Reno Fire Department
REF: Fifty Ways to Kill a First Responder presented at the VCOS Symposium

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"Thank you for sending your presentation so that I can share it with my department.  I have enjoyed listening to you speak the past
two years, and hope to hear you speak again in future Symposiums.  Besides being the state Director for our IAFC Division, I'm
also the Chairman of the Training & Education Committee for our state conference.  Our Committee is constantly looking to bring
speakers to our annual conference each year, plus provide seminars across the state on various topics.  If you are interested in
being a speaker at one of our conferences, please provide me with a list of your programs."

Chief Paul Whorrall
Manlius Fire Department
REF: Fifty Ways to Kill a First Responder presented at the VCOS Symposium
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"This presentation stopped me dead in my tracks! So many things that I was not aware of. Great presentation!"

"Wow what an eye opener this presentation was! Great speaker and presentation. Material was excellent and brought up some
outstanding points on situational awareness."

"Very powerful! Very thought provoking."

"Dr. Gasaway is an excellent presenter with an excellent message. I wish more commanders could see and hear this topic."

"Energetic speaker and the material was very interesting. This instructor and topic is a "must attend" class! Excellent class
participation too."

"Great presentation. Nice to see command/leadership based on research, not just experience of a single individual."

"Good presentation. Very enjoyable. Made me evaluate my direction and consideration when decisions are being made, and how
well I am listening to things that are being transmitted or relayed."

"Dr. Gasaway is an excellent and dynamic speaker. His material is pertinent to every fire officer holding fire ground command
responsibility. Top notch!"

"Dr. Gasaway has a real passion for this subject matter."

"Very good presentation. Very polished."

"Dynamic speaker, excellent topic."

"Of all the classes I attended for this program, I felt this class had the most to offer in terms of impacting the methods I will use to
lead my agency. Good demonstration of how difficult it really is to pay attention and how easily you can be distracted."

Feedback from program evaluations
Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute
National Fire Service Staff & Command Program
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"I have been in the fire service for 32 years and I learned more about how to command a fireground from this program than from
any other training I have had since I joined the fire service."

Participant feedback from Fire Department Instructor's Conference
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"Thank you for speaking with me yesterday. The advice you have given me has opened my eyes. I have a lot of work ahead of me,
but I looking forward to rebuilding what I have lost. Words cannot explain the weight that has been lifted off my shoulders. I look
forward to speaking with you again."

Feedback from a personal coaching session
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"This was a great class. Not only did our new officers benefit but, the Chief had some take-aways as well. Kudos!"

Tim McClung, Training Officer
King County Sheriff's Office, Special Operations
Ref: Fifty Ways to Kill Your Brother
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"Your help this weekend was exactly what I was looking for. I heard nothing but fun and excitement as well as praise since you left.
Excellent work! I look forward to having you back. Thanks again. The time you spent here helped to reform a very neat department
that will bring us to new heights."

Fire Chief Jerry Streich
Centennial Fire Protection District
Ref: Mission, Vision, Core Values Development
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"Rich's research and presentation about barriers to "Situational Awareness" on the fireground is excellent. Rich has done a great
job of bringing the material to the audience in a well balanced and interesting manner. I would highly recommend Rich's program
and the corresponding materials to anyone in the fire service, from firefighters to Chief Officers."

George Esbensen
Fire Chief
Eden Prairie Fire Department
Ref: Fifty Ways to Kill Your Brother & The Fire Service Perfect Storm
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"This program will make your department more aware of how small actions can have a big impact, from the fireground to the
station.... A great program and one I would recommend."

Andy Beck, FF, EMT, Training Officer
Manda City (ND) Fire Department
Ref: Fifty Ways to Kill Your Brother & The Leader's Toolbox programs.
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"I would like to comment how much I enjoyed listening to your presentation on Thursday 13 November at the 2008 Research Event
at the British Fire Service College."

Dr. Margaret Crichton
Industrial Psychologist
People Factor Consultants Ltd
Aberdeen, Scotland
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"For me to be able to sit in a 13-hour, two-day class, and not once have a feeling of boredom was very refreshing and rewarding."

Fire Chief Jack Swinehart
Carroll County Volunteer Fire Department
Ref: Fire Officers Leadership Symposium
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"I blame you for not being able to sleep for the three days following your seminar. Now I just have to decide where I want to start."

David Lloyd
Ref: University of Maryland Executive Development Series
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"Thank you for an excellent class!  Many of the points you discussed really hit home with our department."

Lieutenant Greg M. Renko, Vice-President
Monroeville VFC #1
Ref: Fire Office Development Program presented at Upper Ohio Valley Fire & Rescue School
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"I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. You certainly opened my eyes to many command issues."

Fire Chief John F. Tallent
Madisonville Fire-Rescue
Ref: Fifty Ways to Kill Your Brother presented at the VCOS Symposium in the Sun.
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"I learned a great deal from your program. Thank you for helping me get one step closer towards achieving my goals."

Sara S. (a Hennepin Technical College student)
Ref: How To Get The Job You Really Want.
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"You did an outstanding job! This was our 4th annual officer development seminar and it was the best presentation that we have
offered! Thank you for presenting such timely information that many indicated that they can, and will, take back to their respective
fire departments."

W. Parker Browne, CFPS
Staff Support Officer
Medina Township Fire Department
Ref: The Medina Fire Officer's Development Symposium
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"I wanted to thank you for caring enough about us to do all of the research and present this program. There is no doubt that I will
use this and I am sure many other officers will also. You are doing a great thing and you are saving lives. One doesn't go in pursuit
of the knowledge that you have for any other reason then to benefit their fellow man. You should be proud of your work. Thank
you! I thank you and my Fire Fighters thank you."

Mike Schneider
Captain/EMS Coordinator
Garrison Fire & Rescue
Ref: Fifty Ways to Kill Your Brother & The Fire Service Perfect Storm
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"Your program was the first time I ever walked out of class and said WOW! The members of my fire department have all come
home with a whole new attitude. We left your class with so much motivation and determination. During my career I have been to
numerous conferences and training seminars and I will say that you are an excellent instructor, both in your teachings and your
ability to keep the class motivated. We will be looking for other courses that you will be instructing in the future. We will be there!
Great work!"

Firefighter Scott Beltz
Ref: Fire Officer Leadership Development Program
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"Your class was, by far, the best I have ever attended. Thanks again!"

Lieutenant Raymond Costain
Valley Grove VFD
Ref: Emergency Services Leadership Program
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"Your presentation was one of the brightest classes I have been to in a very long time.  Great Job!"

Assistant Chief Jeff Smith
Galveston Fire
Ref: Fifty Ways to Kill Your Brother, presented at Fire-Rescue International
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"I want to express how fascinated I was by your research and presentation."

Richard A. French
Chief of Response
New York State Emergency Management Office
Ref: Fifty Ways to Kill Your Brother, presented at the Fire Department Instructor's Conference
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"After 37 years in public service, 20 years career law enforcement and 20 years volunteer fire/rescue/EMS, I found your style of
presentation honest and refreshing and the course content integral to our beloved fire service so that Everyone Goes Home."

Craig R. Sjoberg
Training Coordinator
Mandan (ND) Rural Fire Department
Ref: Company Officer Leadership and Fifty Ways to Kill Your Brother programs.
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"I recently went to my first VCOS conference where I heard you speak on Fifty Ways to Kill Your Brother. It was, in my opinion, the
best class of the conference. We are having our annual conference in August and was hoping you would be interested in
speaking."

Michael J. Reason
Deputy Fire Chief
Ref: Symposium in the Sun, Clearwater, Florida

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Testimonials