Lead Instructor Nick Higgins will be speaking for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

This comprehensive, two-part course equips fire officers with the critical decision-making tools and structured command strategies needed to manage dynamic incident scenes. Part one, The First Five Minutes for First Due, focuses on the high-impact actions of the first arriving officer, introducing strategic grounding, tactical patience, and the OODA Loop framework to establish a solid initial mental model. Part two, Functions of Command, builds directly on this foundation by exploring Chief Alan Brunacini’s “8 Functions of Command.” Through interactive exercises, participants will learn John Boyd’s OODA Loops in depth and discover how incident commanders can “EATT” the command elephant one bite at a time. Together, these sessions bridge the critical gap between initial company-level operations and formal, sustained incident command.