About Alex Zielinski
I’m a Deputy Chief and Division Chief of Training in Indiana and one of the largest industrial fire departments in the country. I’ve spent more than 20 years in public safety and emergency response, and most of that time has been spent thinking about one question: how do we actually get better?
Not just compliant. Not just checked-off. Better.
That question drives everything on this site — the tools, the research, the writing, and the work I do with departments and organizations outside my own.
I hold an MBA from Western Governors University and am completing the Doctor of Fire Integrated Research at Columbia Southern University. I’m currently publishing peer-reviewed research and write for publications including Fire Engineering and Firefighter Nation. I serve on the IAFC Industrial Fire and Safety Section and present regularly at major fire service conferences including FDIC International, the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association Conference, and Smoky Mountain Weekend.
What I Write and Talk About
My work spans leadership development, training program design, industrial fire and emergency response, HazMat operations, and the growing role of technology — including AI — in the fire service. I try to write things I’d actually want to read: practical, honest, and grounded in what’s happening on the floor, not just in the literature.
Recent topics include leader-leader models on the fireground, what new fire officers get wrong in their first 90 days, and why industrial firefighter performance is harder to measure than most departments want to admit.
Ways to Work Together
If you’re looking to bring this work into your organization, there are a few ways to do that:
Speaking and Presentations — I present at conferences, state associations, and department training events on leadership, training design, industrial response, and AI in the fire service.
Consulting and Program Development — I work with departments and industrial ERTs on training program assessment, curriculum design, performance measurement, and officer development.
Tools and Resources — Interactive training tools, downloadable resources, and premium content are available through this site for individual and organizational use.
Get in Touch
I respond to every message personally. Whether you have a question about something you read, want to explore working together, or just want to connect — the contact page is the right place to start.