Rick Best

He has more than 25 years of experience in fire service training, program development, and public speaking, and currently serves as the Everyone Goes Home Advocate Program Manager for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. In that role, Rick oversees a system of more than 160 advocates who serve as volunteer trainers delivering programs throughout the United States to develop instructors for the NFFF’s Courage to Be Safe, Leadership, Accountability, Culture, and Knowledge (LACK), and other courses.

Rick began his career as a volunteer firefighter and worked his way into a full-time position for the City of Westerville (OH) Division of Fire. He retired from Westerville in 2019. A Credentialed Chief Training Officer, he spent 15 years on staff at the Ohio Fire Academy, a division of the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Rick has been an invited presenter at Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World, and FRI, and multiple state, local, and regional fire service events, and is a member of the NFPA 1001-1002-1003-1005 and NFPA 1041 Technical Committees.

Rick holds a bachelor of science degree in Public Administration and a master’s degree in Strategic & Organizational Leadership from Neumann University. He is the 2020 recipient of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the health and safety of America’s firefighters.