Managing Your Fire Department’s Promotional Process
Dave Casey
Friday, June 12, 2026
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Reviews the issues that get fire departments into grievances, legal action or just mistrust with the test takers. Includes federal requirements, legal decisions and actions to take to reduce the chance of errors and miscues. Discusses internal tests versus outside vendors, and what to look for with outside vendors and the development of bid specifications.
Dave Casey
Dave Casey is the managing partner of Ascend Leadership LLC, which conducts training and promotional testing for fire departments across the country. He is a volunteer for the DeBary Fire Support Team (canteen/rehab unit).
He is the co-author of the textbook “Live Fire Training Principles & Practice” and the officer leadership video series “The Right Seat – Officer Development Beyond the Textbook” He served as Director of Louisiana’s Municipal fire training/certification program and as the Superintendent of Florida State Fire College, overseeing the state’s certified training, certifications and firefighter safety programs. He also served as Director of the Fire and Emergency Training Institute at Louisiana State University – then the state’s fire academy. Formerly the Fire Chief of Clay County (FL) for 11 years. For 15 years he was a career firefighter/paramedic with Sunrise Fire Rescue, rising through the ranks retiring as the Training/Personnel Division Chief. At the same time, he was a volunteer firefighter for 14 years with the Plantation Fire Dept, leaving as Assistant Fire Chief.
