Our Team
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Fire Chief (ret.) Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, EFO, CFO, MICP
President & Principal Consultant
Chief Richard B. Gasaway, has over 30 years experience in fire, EMS and emergency management. Chief Gasaway served as
firefighter, paramedic, lieutenant, captain, assistant chief and fire chief in 6 fire and EMS organizations in West Virginia, Ohio and
Minnesota.
In addition to his fire service career, Chief Gasaway founded the Gasaway Consulting Group in 1992. The Group’s associates
focus their efforts toward helping organizations and leaders learn and grow, sharpen their focus, solve problems, facilitate
change, improve motivation, understand human behavior, enhance safety, improve efficiency and maximized productivity. In
2009, Chief Gasaway founded the Center for the Advancement of Situational Awareness and Decision Making, an organization
dedicated to improving how individuals, teams and organizations make decisions in stressful environments.
Chief Gasaway holds bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in finance, economics, business administration and leadership
and is a graduate of the prestigious National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program where he now serves as a resident
faculty member. Chief Gasaway is also an instructor in the Executive Development Program for the Maryland Fire & Rescue
Institute and he is an Accredited Chief Fire Officer through the Commission for Public Safety Excellence.
As a professional speaker and author, Chief Gasaway has contributed to more than 160 books, book chapters and journal
articles on topics related to leadership, safety and decision making. He has delivered over 1,500 presentations and keynote
addresses on leadership and safety topics to audiences throughout the United States, Canada and England.
Chief Gasaway had been the recipient of several prestigious honors including the British Fire Journal – W.L. Gore Research
Excellence Award, the American Heart Association’s Phoenix Award, the C. B. Shingleton Academic Scholarship, and the William
J. Litzinger Outstanding Instructor Award.
Email: Support@RichGasaway.com
Phone: 612-548-4424
CLICK HERE to view Chief Gasaway's Curriculum Vitae
Division Fire Chief W. Edward Buchanan, AAS, BS
Senior Associate
Chief Eddie Buchanan began his fire service career in 1982 and currently serves as the division chief of operations for Hanover
(VA) Fire & EMS. Hanover is a large combination system, consisting of more than 150 career personnel and 300 active volunteer
emergency responders. Chief Buchanan is the author of the Volunteer Training Officer’s Handbook from Fire Engineering Books
& Videos and co-author of the Volunteer/Combination Officer’s Section (VCOS) of the International Association of Fire Chief’s Red
& White Ribbon Reports on leading combination and volunteer systems. He also co-authored the Orange Ribbon Report on fire-
based emergency medical services.
Eddie currently serves as President of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and is a past board member of the
VCOS. He serves on the advisory board for Fire Corps and Target Safety. He also serves on the Technical Committee on Fire
Services Training for the National Fire Protection Association. He is “Chief Learning Officer” for Leading With Attitude Consulting
Services, providing training and leadership training.
Eddie has an associate’s degree in fire science, and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Richmond with a
Bachelors degree in Human Resources Management and focus in leadership. He continues his postgraduate education at the
University of Richmond, seeking a master’s degree in Disaster Sciences.
Fire Chief George Esbensen, AAS
Senior Associate
Chief George Esbensen has served as a fire chief and director of emergency management since 2002. Chief Esbensen brings a
strong foundation of leadership in the private sector that he draws upon to help clients address public safety challenges. He has
served as a Senior Account Executive for the Miner Group, Vice President of Sales for Twin Cities Litho, and president of Cycle
Software Services.
Chief Esbensen's professional affiliations include: Adjunct Faculty for Hennepin Technical College, President of the Metropolitan
Fire Chiefs Association, Past President of the Hennepin Fire Chiefs Association, - Minnesota Fire Chiefs Association, Minnesota
Fire Instructor's Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Southwest Mutual Aid Association, Rotary International, and
Phi Theta Kappa.
Fire Chief Richard Kline, MS, EFO, CFO
Senior Associate
Chief Richard C. Kline has served as a fire chief since 1992. Chief Kline holds a Masters Degree in Public Safety and has
attained accreditation as a CFO. Chief Kline is a frequent contributor to professional publications and has presented on a
variety of leadership and firefighter safety topics. Chief Kline is the chairman for the Minnesota State Fire Chief Association’s
Safety and Health Committee.
Fire Chief Tim Holman, BS, CFO
Senior Associate
Tim Holman serves as chief of the German Township Fire & EMS in Clark County, Oh. He received his CFO designation in 2003
and was Fire Chief magazine's 2002 Fire Chief of the Year. A 29-year veteran of the fire service, he has an extensive background
in health care management, the fire service, and organizational development.
As a speaker and seminar leader, Holman has conducted programs throughout the United States on a variety of fire and EMS
management and leadership issues. As a member of the National Speakers Association, he receives frequent requests to speak
at conferences and retreats and is known for presenting unique and motivating programs that give practical solutions to today's
hectic and demanding world. Holman also has written numerous articles for national journals and has published three books, The
Ten Commandments of Highly Successful Leaders, The Building Blocks of a Winning Team, and Leadership Rules of Engagement.
Holman has a bachelor's degree in management from Ottawa University, where he graduated with honors.
| I spent my entire adult life serving as a firefighter and command officer. Following a near-tragic event at an emergency scene earlier in my career, I developed a deep interest in cognitive neuroscience and the impact of stress on situational awareness and decision making. My research in this area has led to some powerful findings and valuable programs that benefit firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, dispatchers, emergency managers, homeland security, military, medical, aviation, business and industry. |
Deputy Chief (ret.) John K. Murphy, JD, MS, PA-C, EFO
Senior Associate
John retired as a Deputy Fire Chief after 32 years of career service; is a practicing attorney, whose focus is on employment
practices liability, training safety, employment policy and practices, forensic evaluation on fire operations, internal investigations
and consulting on risk management for private and public entities. His past fire experience has been as a paramedic firefighter for
more than 20 years and a chief fire officer with responsibilities as the Chief of Training, Chief of Operations, and Chief Health and
Safety. John is a strong proponent of health-care and safety issues in the fire service.
John is a licensed Physicians Assistant practicing since 1977 with a focus in family practice, emergency care and occupational
medicine. He was a US Navy Corpsman serving with the Marine Corps. He is a national speaker and author on legal and medical
issues, Podcast hosts Real Stories from the Fire Ground, expert witness and consultant.
Firefighter (ret.) Dr. Beth L. Murphy, PsyD
Senior Associate
Dr. Murphy retired as a firefighter after 12 years of service to complete her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She is a practicing
clinician with a focus on workplace stress, trauma and traumatic stress, PTSD, health psychology related to cancer and other
chronic illnesses, and injury such as traumatic brain injury. She has worked with a varied population with a focus on fire and police
agencies, as well as military personnel.
While in the fire service, Dr. Murphy was a Firefighter/EMT and member of the Department’s Hazardous Materials Response Unit.
She was also a member of the Peer Support Team which provided day to day support for fire personnel as well as critical incident
stress management (CISM). Dr. Murphy has presented at National conferences and to general audiences speaking on the topics
of traumatic stress, diversity, affects of discrimination and harassment, and women making their way in non-traditional jobs.
Photo coming soon |
Fire Chief William R. Ball, AAS
Senior Associate
Chief William Ball joined the fire service in 1979 as a junior firefighter in West Virginia. He is currently serving as Chief of
Williamsport Volunteer Fire – Emergency Medical Services. Williamsport Fire – EMS is a combination emergency service
organization with 60 plus active operational and support with members with full time Advance Life Support providers. He has
been Chief for 10 years and has held all operational ranks in the department. Chief Ball’s full time career is being a firefighter
with the City of Hagerstown Fire Department in Hagerstown, Maryland assign to Truck Company No. 4.
Chief Ball has taught fire, EMS, rescue and officer development programs since 1986. Chief Ball also currently serves as an
Adjunct Instructor for the Hagerstown Fire Department Training Academy. Chief Ball also coordinates the Washington County
Fire and Rescue Association Fire-Rescue Academy for junior and senior high school students. Chief Ball has served as the
Chiefs Operations Committee Chairperson and County Standards Committee.
He is a graduate from Shepherd College, with a degree in Fire Science and Safety Technology and is certified by the National
and Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications Board as a Firefighter III, Fire Officer 4, Hazardous Materials First
Responder at the Operational Level, Hazardous Materials Incident Commander, Vehicle and Machinery Rescue Technician,
Confined Space Rescue Technician and is a graduate of University of Maryland’s National Fire Service Staff & Command
Program.
Charles (Chad) Weinstein, PhD
Senior Associate
Dr. Weinstein is president of Ethical Leaders in Action (ELA), an organization that exists to empower ethical leaders to achieve
extraordinary results. In that capacity, Weinstein works to develop outstanding leaders in fire service and law enforcement
agencies, health care providers, and small businesses. His work is based on the core idea that ethics is more than avoiding
wrongdoing: ethical leaders pursue greatness.
Weinstein has been a consultant for more than 20 years. Prior to his work in ethical leadership development, Weinstein led
teams and organizations in market and technology consulting, most recently as VP of Client Services for Guideline, Inc. He is an
adjunct faculty member of the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, and an instructor for the Minnesota
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Weinstein holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. in ethics (philosophy) from the University of Minnesota
and a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin. Learn more about Chad Weinstein and Ethical Leaders in Action at
www.ethinact.com.
