FDICConference Director Diane Rothschild recently spoke withDoug Mitchell, who is a featured speaker on “Evolution You: Mission, Motivation, and Mindset”在2022年联邦存款保险公司开幕式第二天,有关whole FDIC International “experience.”
黛安·罗斯柴尔德（Diane Rothschild）：How long have you been teaching/attending FDIC International?
Doug Mitchell:I have been fortunate to attend FDIC events for 12 years, both as a presenter and attendee.
DR:您是如何进入指导的？
DM:If I wasn’t able to live out my childhood dream of being afirefighter, I wanted to be a history teacher. I have always loved teaching. I enjoy working with people, sharing stories and knowledge, and I always appreciated those who took time to teach me things throughout my life. I may have gotten a little bit of this from my parents. They were both educators in their own rights. My mother retired after a long career as a teacher in elementary education and my father, while working full time for the FDNY, was an adjunct professor who taught college fire science classes at John Jay College, West Point, and Rockland Community College. Every job I held, even as a child, was teaching in some capacity–my first job as an elementary school CYO basketball referee/coach; teaching swim lessons at the YMCA through high school and college; and working as a camp counselor each summer teaching NYC kids how to swim, canoe, row a boat, and sail. I find teaching extremely personally rewarding, as rewarding as my career in the fire service, helping others. I am so grateful that I can share my passion–the fire service, share my stories and experiences with others, and teach others what others have shared with me. I am indeed truly blessed to be able to live out my dream and do what I can to pass along to others. I am by far not the smartest man in the room, but I try to make myself and all who I come in contact with, through teaching in the fire service, just a little bit better today than they were yesterday. This is what we must continue to do: pass it on, pay it forward, as our mentors did for us. I was fortunate to have many great mentors who instilled this pride and purpose and molded me into the man and fire officer I am today. Many would rather be the one in the coffin than the person who has to stand before the attendees to give a eulogy. I am happy that I have the ability and the platform to spread the “good word” out to those who will listen. I do not take the responsibility lightly; we are indeed in a life-and-death profession.
DR:What sets your experience at FDIC International apart from attending other conferences?
DM:FDIC overall has an electric vibe. From the attentive staff and the quality of the presenters and vendors to the flow of the venue to the after-hour networking and social events, FDIC has never failed to recharge my zest for the fire service.
DR:What was your reaction to being selected as a featured speaker at the Opening Ceremony?
DM:WhenChief Haltonpresented me the opportunity to speak at the Opening Ceremony, I may have for once in my life been absolutely speechless. I was flabbergasted, stammered, and burst out with an almost unintelligible reply that made little sense. His gesture was extremely thoughtful, emotional, and I still get butterflies in my stomach just talking about it. It was certainly a pinnacle moment, personally and professionally. I am truly honored to have been asked. I won’t let him or the team down.
DR:您认为今天消防部门面临的最紧迫的问题是什么？为什么？
DM:I see right now, all across the country, the fire service is struggling with providing staffing. Rigs are out of service, companies are browned out, and staffing levels have been reduced in many places across the country. I think that many are having recruitment and retention concerns, much of which has been predicated on the effects of the COVID pandemic on our departments.Traininghas also struggled, and trainers have had to be creative and innovative as they struggle to provide adequate training for members. This is a face-to-face, sometimes in your face, hands-on dirty job, and when it’s tough to get people together, relevant, pertinent, life-saving training is absolutely impacted.
DR:What is your “takeaway” from a week at FDIC International?
DM:I always find my experience at FDIC to be one of reflection, rejuvenation, and re-connecting. I think that it is a very humbling yet overwhelming experience at times, as there are so many great programs and wonderful people to meet from all across the fire service world. I find that the week is not about me but about we–how we as a collective fire service can put forth the best product to those we took an oath to protect, our citizens. Whether that comes from attending classes on lessons learned from recent notable fires or emergencies, a review of others tactics and operational goals, looking at new tools and equipment, or attending some interpersonal well-being programs, it brings me back reinvigorated personally and professionally.
DR:Who are your FDIC International role models and why?
DM:There are so many role models, mentors, and peers at each FDIC event it would be hard, if near impossible, to single them all out. From chief to firefighter, from decades of experience to someone who is new to the profession, there are so many wonderful and inspiring people with inspiring stories. There is not a year of FDIC that I don’t learn of another person who is making a difference in our industry.
DR:What advice do you have for first-time attendees?
FV:Create an itinerary of classes that you must see and fill in the other time slots with things that interest you and that will make you better. Remember, much of what you hear (especially tactics wise) will have to be digested when you adapt it for your home jurisdiction. That said, be teachable, be open, listen. Take advantage of the social end of FDIC as well. Do the run, do the stairs, have an adult beverage (or two), but be responsible, respectful, and just enjoy!
Opening Ceremony, Day 2
2022年4月28日，星期四
8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
印第安纳波利斯印第安纳会议中心Sagamore宴会厅
Featured Speaker: “Evolution You: Mission, Motivation, and Mindset”
Captain Douglas J. Mitchell, Jr., Fire Department of New York
Firefighters and fire officers often voice their frustrations with two things: “the way things are” and “change.” How do we best address our mission while remaining motivated and maintaining a clear mindset for the future? Leaders must adapt to rapidly changing fire floor and firehouse dynamics, pushing ourselves, our companies, and our departments toward operational excellence each day. Let us look inside at our own strengths and weaknesses as we evolve in our time of service to others.
小道格拉斯·米切尔（Douglas J. Mitchell Jr.）拥有30年的消防经验，过去23岁Fire Department of New York (FDNY). He is the captain of Ladder Company 38 in the Belmont section of the Bronx. He is an FDNY IMT member and served as the executive officer of the Probationary Firefighters School. He previously served with the Fairfax County (VA) and Howard County (MD) Fire & Rescue Departments. He co-wroteFire Engineering’s25 to Survive: Reducing Residential Injury and LODDwith Dan Shaw.
