Biography

Chief Richard B. Gasaway has been a fire chief for 19 years. His emergency services career spans 28 years, serving 6 organizations in West Virginia, Ohio, and Minnesota. He has served as the chief of the Roseville, Minnesota Fire Department since 1999.

Chief Gasaway holds a Bachelor’s and Masters degree in Business Administration and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, and the Maryland’s Fire & Rescue Institute’s National Fire Service Staff & Command Course. Chief Gasaway is a fourth-year doctoral student with an emphasis on organizational behavior and leadership.

In 2001, Chief Gasaway became the 30^th chief fire officer worldwide to be accredited by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. In 2003 he was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve a four-year term on the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Review Board.

Chief Gasaway has authored more than 60 articles on leadership topics in regional and national publications and hosts The Leader’s Toolbox podcast program on Firehouse.com. He was a contributing author to the International Association of Fire Chief’s Blue Ribbon and Red Ribbon Reports. He has also presented more than 130 national fire, rescue, EMS and safety oriented programs.