Growing up with the highest respect for Fire Engineering magazine, hosting David Rhodes on the podcast was powerful. Settled in as the Editor in Chief, Chief Rhodes brings a fresh face and more importantly, perspective as the magazine takes a turn into todays' fast paced fire service. The episode goes in depth on the "safety culture" concerns of today, his powerful remarks at FDIC highlighting the "revolution" and most importantly, sharing his own story of cancer beside his good friend Mike Ciampo. David's courage of sharing personal information is evident but his real courage and commitment is ensuring the fire service remains on a forward path. Steering the ship and finding his way into his new position comes with many mentors and influencers who can help guide, but it's exciting to watch David take on some hot issues head on. He believes in accountability and upholding the very best traditions of the fire service. Getting out there, collaborating with other platforms and conferences, Chief Rhodes knows he needs to be present and to support other initiatives outside the Fire Engineering umbrella. As small as the fire service is, it's plenty large enough for the "revolution" to happen and to be an active participant. We must be present and be willing to challenge the status quo and initiatives to ensure it represents the fire service requirements. We cannot lower our guard and allow complacency and outside influence to change our trajectory. With David Rhodes at the helm, integrity and character will remain paramount as we continue to push forward.
