Warren Bennis had a great vision when describing a leader. “No leader sets out to be a leader. People set out to live their lives, expressing themselves fully. When that expression is of value, they become leaders.” I feel this vision fits strongly when describing the modern day fire service officer. When today’s fire officer is able to link the values and goals of all of the emergency responders based on their own ethics that they have acquired through past experience, this allows them to lead the organization and its members in a positive forward direction.” Mr. Chad Lannon, FIrefighter/EMT, College Park Volunteer Fire Dept., College Park MD Mr. Chad Lannon: “I believe being an effective leader comes down to being ethical, responsible, and confident. A leader has to believe in the mission of the group, they need to be a good communicator and they have to make the right decisions in the face of adversity. They have to be selfless and available to their team members. A good leader will mentor, motivate and provide constructive feedback to others so that they can be the best they can be. A great leader has to be willing to teach others and educate the people around them. A leader understands that training their group is essential because one day, that leader will need to pass the torch to someone else and that person has to be prepared to lead the group. In order to understand both perspectives of a team, a leader must also be able to take orders and follow someone else’s guidance. Most importantly, a leader has to be competent. They need to be confident in all of their decisions because in some instances, the leader’s decisions can impact the welfare of the members of the team.” Mr. Michael Parissi, Hazardous Materials Specialist II, San Joaquin County Environmental Health, Stockton CA (John M. Eversole HazMat Recipient) Mr. Michael Parissi: “Leadership is more than being in charge. I believe a leader is a mentor, trainer, educator, and friend. I follow the “Lead by Example” philosophy. As such it is important to encourage and support those I am leading.” 2011 Ms. Tabitha Browne, EMT-B, Central Juniata EMS, Mifflintown, PA (Sellers EMS Recipient Ms. Tabitha Browne: (not available) Ms. Tracy Moore, Fire Captain, Minneapolis Fire Department, Minneapolis, MN Ms. Tracy Moore: “I am committed to leading with integrity, which to me means that as a leader I must lead by example. I must have a strong work ethic if I expect others to work hard. I believe that it is important to lead with a transparency that demonstrates honesty, which is supported with facts and action. My philosophy of leadership includes a service aspect where I am aware of the desires of the people I lead. That awareness comes from listening and being willing to stand in their shoes. A leader is able to understand different perspectives and respect them even when those views differ from my own. As a leader I must be open to learning from others. A leader must have confidence in her decisions and be willing to carry out those decisions even when it casts an unpopular opinion. Therefore I believe a leader must possess a strong character not only to carry out an unpopular decision but also to be open to another perspective when it will work better than her own. A true leader hears the little things and makes the decision based on the big picture. My philosophy of leadership is one that would strive toward fairness and consistency based on the good of the whole, without forgetting the important process along the way.