Rick Lasky, a 25-year veteran of the fire service, is chief of the Lewisville (TX) Fire Department. Rick began his career as a firefighter in the suburbs on the southwest side of Chicago and while in Illinois received the 1996 International Society of Fire Service Instructors “Innovator of the Year” award for his part in developing the “Saving Our Own” program. He is the co-lead instructor for the H.O.T. Firefighter Survival program at FDIC and FDIC East and is an editorial advisory board member of Fire Engineering Magazine and serves on the FDIC, FDIC West and East advisory boards.
John Salka (ret) served with the FDNY for over 33 years. John is the author of the best-selling books First In Last Out Leadership Lessons from the New York Fire Department and The Engine Company. He received the 2001 FDIC Training Achievement Award for his Get Out Alive firefighter survival training program and travels extensively training firefighters throughout the 50 states and Canada in tactics, strategy, leadership and safety & survival.
