Speakers: Jeffrey Hennessy, Commander, Coordinator of Hazardous Materials/WMD Training, Chicago Fire Department. Fernando Lua, Firefighter 1, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Pablo Ayala: What leadership means to me is. You know your actions. It's not what you say, it's what you're really your actions, it's what you do. You gotta, you gotta, I can't Tell somebody to do something, I have to be the first one to do it or lead others, you know, I'm not going to be the guy pointing and telling you what to do. I'm like, come, let's do it together. You know, it's, it's not, you could, you could command people, but I, I'd rather be the first one to do it and do it with others, you know, that's my description as a leader.
Jessica Ziems: This scholarship gives me the opportunity to grow as a leader in a more intentional way. The fire service has a lot of demands physically, mentally, and emotionally. In 2023 in July, we lost a friend and a firefighter to suicide. It brought up a lot throughout our department and through individuals of the mental health side that we don't always talk about. The scholarship gives me an opportunity to go back to school and learn more about the mental health side and the first responders. I will be able to improve my knowledge and leadership skills to help better support my crew members so I can identify burnout, stress, get a better education so I can better support my crew and my brothers and sisters on the Milwaukee Fire Department.
Joe Flick: Leadership is a privilege and a responsibility that we have any time that we're in a position to influence others. My vision of leadership starts with working on myself. If I can become a better father, a better husband, and a better person, that's inevitably gonna make me a better firefighter and a better fire officer. I believe that better people make better fire officers. And if I can focus through my studies on increasing my skill set, I'll be better prepared to focus on helping not just my people but the citizens that I serve.
Victorian Simmons: To me, leadership is about service, accountability and trust is not defined by rank or title but by influence and example. A good leader listens, empowers others, and creates an environment where people feel valued, supported, and motivated to do their best work. Leadership means making decisions with integrity and always keeping the people you serve at the center.
Fernando Lua: Leadership to me is. Practicing what you preach. Leadership. To me. Is. Having a servant's heart. Remembering that. Every. Choice Action. Reaction. That you take. Is making an impact. And you want that to be an impact that is positive. That is healthy. And that makes long-lasting effects in a good way in those around you. In order to be able to do that, you have to practice what you preach. If you say that you are gonna be a good leader. Then you have to practice a lot of patience. You have to practice a lot of listening. If you ask your crew. To be operationally and physically ready, you yourself must be operationally and physically fit and ready for duty. So leadership in summary to me is again. Being that positive example, but actually really living out the things that you profess that you do or you are.
Jeffrey Hennessy: We often see leaders as heroes on the battlefield leading from the front, running through the dust of explosions, or maybe we see leaders as great orators in front of thousands. I always see myself as a quiet leader, one who leads from the sidelines. When I was younger and coached my hockey, I developed a complex training program that allowed the kids to develop their skills on the ice. I watched them develop, becoming better skaters, handling the puck, and eventually putting the puck in the net behind the bench. I wasn't yelling or screaming at the kids, but offered suggestions on where to begin the ice, what to look for, and how to help each other out. When they won the championship and skated around the ice with their trophy, I was happy in knowing that I had led them to that victory. I try to teach the why that it is important, helping them understand what I'm trying to teach. Hazmat is not an easy topic, and I have to find ways to be creative and get the material across. My goal is to help them to learn, to succeed, and push themselves further than they think they can go. I want to build, build on a legacy that I experienced. I remember the instructor who taught me hazmat when I went through the academy. I want to pass that torch on to the next firefighters who come through the halls of the academy, the future instructors and future hazmat technicians.
