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Leading From the Front…Of the Classroom
Stepping into the role of a training officer is one of the most underestimated transitions in the fire service. Some people have always wanted to teach. Others are promoted into the role, assigned to it unexpectedly, or step up because no one else will. Regardless of how you arrive, everything changes the moment you accept responsibility for developing others. That moment is the beginning of leadership. You immediately become someone people look to for standards, clarity, gui

Bobby Drake
Nov 18, 2025


Practiced. Prepared. Polished.
Every leader eventually reaches a point where they realize growth does not happen by accident. It is a product of intention, effort, and consistency. That truth was reinforced recently while participating in an assessment center. Throughout the process, I watched professionals display their knowledge, judgment, and composure. Some excelled through experience, others through confidence, and a few through a balance of both. As I observed, three words stood out: practiced, prepa

Bobby Drake
Oct 23, 2025


The Balance Point: Where Authority Meets Approachability
Leadership is a delicate dance between position and presence. Authority gives you the title, the badge, or the bugles but approachability...

Bobby Drake
Oct 10, 2025


Bottled Passion: A Leader’s Hidden Opportunity
The company officer is the true fulcrum of the fire service. They hold the line between strategy and execution, balancing the demands of...

Bobby Drake
Oct 1, 2025
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