John Tippett, CFO, FIFireE, is the director of Fire Service Programs for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). He was previously the interim chief for the Charleston, SC, Fire Department, where he served since 2009. Tippett previously spent 33 years with Montgomery County, MD, Fire and Rescue. He has extensive experience as a company officer, operations battalion chief, safety officer, instructor and chief officer. His past experience also includes 10 years with Maryland Task Force 1, a FEMA US&R team, with five years as task force leader. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science and a master’s degree in emergency services management. Tippett has also worked extensively on national firefighter safety initiatives, including introducing crew resource management to the fire service and the National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System. He writes and lectures frequently on firefighter safety, decision-making, leadership, risk management and tactics. Tippett is an at-large board member on the International Association of Fire Chief’s Safety, Health and Survival Section, holds a certified health and safety officer credential through the Fire Department Safety Officers’ Association (FDSOA) and has earned a Chief Fire Officer Designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. He was the 2006 recipient of the George D. Post Instructor of the Year from the International Society of Fire Service Instructors.