Today's Training for Tomorrow's Leaders

Battalion Chief Anthony Kastros | Professional Development Track |
2021 Annual Conference

Part 1: Leadership

Leadership skills are imperative to the modern fire officer. Whether you are developing company or chief officers, it takes a comprehensive plan and dynamic, realistic, scenario-based training. What can we do today to prepare the officers of tomorrow? Learn proven strategies for developing company and chief officers so they can excel at issues like risk management, communication, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, ensuring a healthy work environment, planning, budgeting, motivation vs. inspiration, writing, mental health, and many other facets of leadership.

Part 2: Command & Tactics

Command & tactics are critical to company and chief officers alike. Beyond war stories and simulations, how can we develop our aspiring company and chief officers to excel on the emergency scene? Whether house fires, apartment fires, commercial fires, unified command, or national-level headlines, your officers need to be trained to manage a wide array of incidents. How can you develop excellent fireground commanders and tacticians? What proven methods can be replicated in your agency or region to ensure everyone goes home safe after each call, while providing the best service to the public? Our officers must save civilian lives and not be caught flat-footed when conditions suddenly change. Command presence cannot be faked. Learn how to ensure it is real and present in your new officers.

Battalion Chief Anthony Kastros
Anthony (Andoni) Kastros is a 33-year veteran of the fire service and Battalion Chief with Sacramento Metro Fire District (ret). He is author of the Fire Engineering book and video series, Mastering the Fire Service Assessment Center – 2^nd Edition. It is used widely throughout the United States for officer development. Also, from Fire Engineering, Anthony authors the 3-part DVD series Mastering Fireground Command – Calm the Chaos! This series focuses on fireground strategy, tactics, and ICS using actual incidents, video, and simulations.

In addition, Kastros authored the video series, Mastering Unified Command – From Hometown to Homeland. The video is focused on bridging the gap between fire and law for a true unified response and command platform to face the “New Normal” that is prevalent in America today. The video features many experts from around the United States, including former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta.

Kastros is an FDIC-International and Firehouse World instructor, was the Keynote Speaker at FDIC 2013 and is the recipient of the 2019 George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award from the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and Fire Engineering. Anthony hosts The Command Show, a monthly blog radio show through Fire Engineering. As a USAR Team Manager with Sacramento Task Force 7, he deployed to Ground Zero on 9/11. Anthony spent 4 years with a Type 1 Incident Management Team.

Through Trainfirefighters.com, his cadre of instructors has taught thousands of firefighters from around the world in leadership, team building, officer development, command, tactics, strategic planning, and mergers. Anthony’s faith and family are the most important things in his life.