Command Competence provides training, consulting, and technical support to fire departments and fire service organizations seeking to improve incident command performance, operational decision-making, and risk management in complex and high-consequence environments. Services integrate contemporary fire behavior and macrocognitive research and practical command experience. Engagements range from short-duration training programs to long-term development of organizational training systems, simulation capability, and command development frameworks.
Command Competence offers a range of professional services for training, fire dynamics education, scenario/simulation development, and command performance consulting tailored to fire departments and training organizations.
Command Training Services
Command Competence delivers structured and evidence-based training programs designed to improve operational decision-making, tactical coordination, and command performance at the company and incident command levels. Our training integrates fire behavior fundamentals with real-world complexity through scenario work, facilitated discussion, and deliberate practice.
Training services include [REFINE THIS LIST]:
- Incident Command decision-making and how to think like an IC
- 10-Minute Training Tactical Decision Game facilitation
- Evidence based training in structural firefighting strategy and tactics
- Training in managing expanding incidents
- Instructor development for scenario-based training
Training can be delivered in classroom, workshop, or blended formats and tailored to department-specific operating contexts.
Fire Dynamics Training Services
Fire dynamics education focuses on improving operational understanding of fire behavior in the built environment and its implications for tactics, ventilation, suppression, and firefighter safety.
Topics commonly include:
- Modern fuel loads and heat release rates
- Flow path development and control
- Ventilation effects on fire growth
- Structural compartment fire behavior
- Tactical implications of fire development stages
- Integration of fire behavior knowledge into command decision-making
Programs may be delivered as stand-alone courses or integrated into broader command development initiatives.
Simulation and Scenario Development
Command Competence designs custom scenario-based training systems and computer-supported simulations to support deliberate practice in complex operational environments.
Services include:
- Development of tactical decision game libraries
- Fire Studio 7–based simulation design
- Custom scenario scripting and inject development
- Multi-company and command-level exercise design
- Evaluation frameworks for simulation-based training
Simulation systems are designed to support repeated practice, facilitated discussion, and progressive development of command competence.
Assessment Centers and Promotional Processes
Command Competence supports the development of assessment centers and promotional testing processes focused on evaluating operational judgment, command reasoning, and decision-making under realistic conditions.
Support includes:
- Scenario design for promotional processes
- Evaluation criteria and scoring frameworks
- Structured interview development
- Assessor training
- Validation of decision-making components
- Integration of simulation into assessment processes
The emphasis is on evaluating how candidates think, prioritize, and adapt under operational constraints—not only procedural knowledge.
Serious Injury and Line-of-Duty Death Support
Command Competence provides technical and analytical support to agencies conducting serious injury or line-of-duty death investigations and reviews.
Services may include:
- Incident reconstruction and timeline development
- Analysis of decision-making and command processes
- Fire behavior interpretation
- Operational factors assessment
- Identification of systemic contributors
- Development of training-oriented recommendations
This work is conducted with an emphasis on learning and organizational improvement rather than fault assignment.
Research and Program Development Support
Command Competence assists organizations in the design and evaluation of long-term training programs and research-informed command development initiatives.
Support includes:
- Training system design
- Curriculum development
- Cognitive task analysis
- Evaluation of command performance frameworks
- Integration of research findings into training practice
- Development of scenario-based learning systems
This work often supports multi-year organizational learning and professional development strategies.
Engagement Models
Engagements are tailored to organizational needs and may include:
- Single-day or multi-day training programs
- Remote or on-site consultation
- Long-term program development partnerships
- Simulation system design projects
- Research collaboration
- Advisory support for command development initiatives
Geographic location, department size, and operational context are accommodated.
Discuss Your Training or Consulting Needs
If you would like to explore how Command Competence can support your organization’s training, simulation, or command development objectives, please get in touch to discuss your needs.