Whether you are a new, experienced, or aspiring company officer, the IAFC Company Officers Section (COS) provides the connections, knowledge, and resources you need to become a stronger fire service leader.
COS brings together company officers and future leaders from across the fire and emergency service to learn from one another, share solutions, develop leadership skills, and address the issues that matter most at the company level.
Mission
The Company Officers Section is dedicated to providing information, education, services, and representation that advance the professionalism of company officers and strengthen the communities they serve.
Leadership & Professional Development
As one of the IAFC’s fastest-growing sections, COS is committed to developing and supporting the next generation of fire service leaders.
Through education, collaboration, networking, and the exchange of real-world experience, the Section helps members build the knowledge, confidence, and leadership capabilities needed to succeed in today’s evolving fire and emergency service environment.
COS recognizes that effective company officers do more than manage day-to-day operations. They lead people, build teams, influence culture, develop future leaders, and connect department leadership with personnel on the front line.
Joining the Company Officers Section means becoming part of a community committed to better leadership at the company level and a stronger fire service overall.
COS Efforts
Sessions with the COS
Discover how leading with passion and purpose can inspire your team, strengthen your leadership and make a lasting impact in the fire service.
Learn practical emergency scene communication strategies to improve firefighter safety, crew coordination and decision-making for company officers.
Mentoring
Empowering the Next Generation of Fire Service Leaders
The IAFC Company Officer Section Mentoring Program is designed to strengthen leadership across the fire service by connecting current and aspiring company officers with experienced mentors who have walked the path before them. Whether you are preparing for promotion, stepping into a new leadership role, or looking to enhance your command presence, this program provides the guidance, support, and professional network you need to excel.
Why Mentoring Matters
Company officers are the backbone of the fire service responsible for supervision, operations, safety, community engagement, and culture. Strong leadership doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through experience, training, and trusted relationships.
Our mentoring program provides:
- Personalized one-on-one guidance from seasoned officers
- Career development support tailored to your goals
- Leadership skill-building aligned with IAFC standards and best practices
- A confidential space to discuss challenges, decisions, and growth
- A national professional network of company-level leaders
Whether you’re newly promoted or preparing for future leadership, this program meets you where you are and helps you reach where you want to go.
How the Program Works
The IAFC Company Officer Section Mentoring Program is flexible and accessible, designed for busy fire service professionals.
- Review the mentor list to find your best match
- Contact your selected mentor
- Develop a strong mentoring relationship
- Grow and advance as a leader
The IAFC Company Officer Section Mentoring Program is flexible and accessible, designed for busy fire service professionals.
Who Should Apply
This mentoring program is ideal for:
- Newly promoted company officers
- Acting officers or those preparing for promotion
- Firefighters seeking leadership development
- Officers looking to expand their knowledge, confidence, and command capability
Program Benefits
- Leadership readiness and confidence
- Improved communication and crew management skills
- Guidance for navigating station culture and operational challenges
- Expanded professional connections across the fire service
- A supportive relationship with someone invested in your success
Become a Mentor
Experienced fire service leaders are invited to give back by mentoring the next generation. Share your knowledge, expand your influence, and help build a stronger future for the profession.
Awards
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Governance
The COS board includes four executive officers (section chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer) who serve two-year terms, plus eight at-large directors who serve three-year terms. The executive officers are elected by the current COS board. The at-large directors are elected by section members.
Meet the COS Board
COS Partners
Recommended Reading
Leadership/Management
Title
Author
Conquering Crisis
Facing the Fire
Leaders Myth and Reality
McRaven
Walsh & Jones
McChrystal et al.
Team Development/Culture
Title
Author
Forging Your Team
Read Before Leading
Team of Teams
Torgeson
Hill
McChrystal et al.
Communication/Influence
Title
Author
Mastering Project Human Resource Management
Crucial Conversations
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Singh
Grenny et al.
Carnegie & Schuster
Historical Perspectives
Title
Author
3000 Degrees
Fire in the Grove
My Boys and Girls Are in There
Flynn
Esposito
Rozelle
Health/Wellness
Title
Author
Create Your Own Light
Hope Out of Darkness
Fire Service Psychology
Travis Howze
Ali
Wheldon
History of COS
IAFC President Jack Parow established the Company Officer Task force consisting of Mike Jaffa,Chair; Craig Aman, Joseph Bradley, Brian Collins, Randall Hanifen, Jo-Ann Lorber, James Paul, Alan Rufer, and Donald Willbanks, who held their kick-off meeting on December 2, 2010.
Task Force Chair Jaffa and Randall Hanifen presented a briefing to the IFAC Board of Directors, making 5 recommendations to enhance professional development of Company Officers and promote their involvement as members of the IAFC.
Then IAFC President Al Gillespie established the Company Officer Leadership Committee, with a mission to, “Integrate and grow Company Officer engagement within the work of the IAFC and to help Company Officers develop the leadership skills to meet today’s challenges and to prepare them for promotion to Chief Officer in the future.” The Company Officer Leadership Committee was made up of 12 members with an additional 4 adjunct members. Over the course of the next 3 years the Committee became active on several other committees and built relationships with other Sections and Divisions of the IAFC. Producing several webinars and being consistent contributors to the IAFCs On Scene newsletter, the committee began its quest to form the Company Officers Section.
Chair Jaffa and Vice Chair Hanifen presented a draft of the proposed Company Officers Section by-laws, budget, and a list of more than 150 IAFC regular members who had committed to support the formation of the Section to the IAFC Board of Directors. At that IAFC Board meeting, under the leadership of then IAFC President Keith Bryant, approval was given to form the section.
At FRI 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia, the Company Officers Section became the 10th section of the IAFC. The original members of the Company Officer Section Board of Directors were, Mike Jaffa – chair, Randall Hanifen – vice chair, Rob Frampton – treasurer, Brian Morrison – secretary, members at-large, Craig Aman, Joseph Bradley, Christopher Divver, Mary Emge, Jon Messick, Brieanne Nix, Alan Rufer, and Demond Simmons.
In 2017 we lost two of our friends, mentors, brothers, and fellow board members to cancer; Captain Craig Aman of the Seattle, Washington FD and an original member of the Company Officer Task Force, and Battalion Chief Jon Messick of the Southern Platte Fire Protection District, Missouri. GONE TOO SOON! RIP BROTHERS!
The Company Officer Section officially released its first publication: “IAFC – Succession Management for the Fire-Rescue Service Second Edition“
We have had new board members elected and/or appointed to fill the board seats of other members who have left the board for a variety of reasons. Our current board is made up of the following members: Randy Hanifen – Chair, Brian Morrison – Vice-Chair, Joe Bynum – Secretary, Rob Frampton – Treasurer, and Demond Simmons, Sean Cummings, Mark Duerr, John Russ. Matthew Caward, Stephen Ludwig, and Laron Ward serving as at-large members of the board.
This year the section celebrated its 10th anniversary. The board undertook numerous projects. The first ever Company Officer of the Year Award was presented during FRI 2025 and FailFest was put on by the board. During FRI 2025 Lt. John Russ (vice chair) was reelected and sworn in alongside new board members Capt. Ashley Engler, Lt. Ryan Meigel, and BC Jesse Schilling.
