FDIC Conference Director Diane Rothschild recently spoke with Chief Scott Thompson, The Colony (TX) Fire Department, who will be keynoting on “Safety, Standards, and Being Cowboy Ready” at FDIC International 2024 Opening Ceremony Day 1, about the whole FDIC “experience.”
DR: How long have you been teaching/attending FDIC International?
ST: I have been attending FDIC since 2002. Chief Rick Lasky brought me on as part of the Saving Our Own/Get Out Alive Hands On Training, so I have been teaching for as long as I have been attending.
DR: How did you get into instructing in general?
ST: I started teaching hazardous materials classes in 1986 at Collin County Community College.
DR: Who are your role models and why?
ST: My first role model was Randy Stone. Randy was the senior man on Engine 22, a special operations company, in Plano, Texas. Randy was highly respected and had great character and work ethic. He taught me how to be firefighter. FDNY Rescue 3 Lieutenant Pete Lund was another early role model and mentor of mine. Pete mentored me for several years and taught me to look for opportunities to be a firefighter at the highest level. Alan Brunacini was probably the person I viewed as a role model the longest. I was inspired by Chief Brunacini’s leadership and operational philosophy and how he could break complex subjects into terms I could understand as a young fire officer. Mike Orrico, retired lieutenant from Oaklawn, IL, and FDIC HOT instructor, because of his passion for the job, diverse knowledge, skill level, and common sense. I have learned volumes just observing Mike, and his stories always have a lesson. To this day, Mike is one of the first people I call when I am confronting a new challenge. My most recent role model is Chief Rick Lasky. Chief Lasky’s mindset, core values, operational philosophy, and leadership style made great sense to me and were things that I wanted to learn and integrate into my leadership style. Rick taught me to be a better chief and he continues to be a mentor, role model, and friend.
DR: What sets your experience at FDIC International apart from attending other conferences?
ST: FDIC is in a class of its own when it comes to fire conferences. I have been fortunate to enjoy the full FDIC experience from teaching HOT, classroom sessions, workshops, being an author, playing with the pipes and drums, and spending time with each of my role models and mentors. The offerings at FDIC get me out of my comfort zone. I always find classes that challenge, educate, and inspire me. The networking potential and possibilities are endless. I have great friends today that I met at FDIC.
DR: What was your reaction to being selected as the keynote?
ST: I had the reaction twice. The late FDIC Education Director Bobby Halton asked me during a Humpday Hangout and I was incredibly flattered and honored coming from Bobby. It took a while to set in. By the time it did, Bobby had passed, and I was told I was not doing the keynote. Following the Advisory Board meeting for FDIC 2024, I received word from Education Director Chief David Rhodes that I was doing the keynote Wednesday. I think the second time was a little more emotional and still very exciting. It is a tremendous honor to be trusted with such a platform. Getting this opportunity is in the top five of my greatest fire service opportunities. It’s still hard to believe that I will have the opportunity to be on a stage that so many great fire service representatives have been on. I am honored and thankful to so many who have given me this tremendous opportunity. Being Chief Rhodes’ first full FDIC to plan makes it a little more special.
DR: What do you think is the most pressing issue facing the fire service today and why?
ST: This is really the theme of my keynote. The greatest challenge facing the fire service is risk management and balancing risk acceptance and risk avoidance. With two sons on the job and five grandbabies, it’s also very personal to me. We need to take action steps to protect firefighters, but when it comes at a cost to those we protect, there is a problem. The fire service can learn a lesson from law enforcement and responding to active shooter events. Communities, starting with Columbine, have been quick to weigh in on the police response to these events. If the fire service keeps looking for ways to avoid risks, in a job that is full of risks, I fear we will open ourselves up to more public criticism on our response and our commitment to aggressive problem solving.
DR: What is your advice to first-time FDIC attendees?
ST: Preplan before you get to Indy. It’s very easy to get overwhelmed with all the classes, vendors, and events. Look at all the great resources available—class descriptions, videos, instructor bios. Have a tentative plan of the things you want to see and do. If you have a mentor, role model, or fire service personality that you would like to get some time with, try and reach out prior to set something up. When you arrive in Indy, focus on what you want to accomplish—vendors you would like to speak with and classes you want to attend. It’s very easy to focus on all the “fun stuff.” Enjoy the experience; listen to the pipes and drums; and go to the fun run, F.O.O.L.S. bash, and union hall but don’t drink too much or party too hard. FDIC is the greatest fire service training experience there is, and you need to be sharp to listen and learn. You won’t get to do everything you want, so have a plan. Stay off the electric scooters: They have cut many trips short, ending with a ride in an ambulance.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 8:30 am-10:00 am
Opening Ceremony Keynote
“Safety, Standards, and Being Cowboy Ready”
Chief Scott Thompson, The Colony (TX) Fire Department
The fire service has weaponized safety, performance standards, and aggressive tactics. Referencing traditional cowboy traits such as confidence, independence, and instinct, Thompson will make the comparison to desired traits on the fireground. While the message will not endorse freelancing, or other rogue behavior, it will talk about having such capabilities as a preparedness action step. The overall focus will be on managing risks and a mindset of either risk acceptance or risk avoidance based on the situation and operational capabilities and limitations.
Scott Thompson entered the fire service in 1982 as a volunteer and began his paid career with the Plano (TX) Fire Department in 1986. He has been the chief in The Colony (TX) Fire Department since 2009. He has a bachelor’s degree in emergency administration and planning, is a Texas certified public manager, and has presented at FDIC since 2002. Thompson has had numerous articles published on leadership, training, command and control, suburban fire operations, and firefighter rescue and survival. He is the author of The Functional Fire Company: Positioning Small Groups for Success and Survival (Fire Engineering).
