Chief Dennis Compton

Chief Dennis Compton is a well-known speaker and the author of several books including the When in Doubt, Lead! three-part series and Mental Aspects of Performance for Firefighters and Fire Officers, as well as many articles and publications. He is also the Co-Editor of the current edition of the ICMA’s textbook titled, “Managing Fire and Rescue Services”. His experience includes a significant management, consulting, and teaching history covering a wide variety of disciplines and subjects in the public, private, academic, and non-profit sectors. He is very active in the international fire service and a respected advisor to fire service and other homeland security organizations.

Dennis was the Fire Chief in Mesa, Arizona for more than five years and Assistant Fire Chief in Phoenix, Arizona, where he served for twenty-seven years. Chief Compton has served as Chair of the Executive Board of the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s National Advisory Committee, is a member of the Home Safety Council Board of Directors, and serves on the George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute’s Steering Committee.

Chief Compton was selected as the American Fire Sprinkler Association’s Fire Service Person of the Year 2000 and is a charter member of the Arizona Fire Service Hall of Fame. He was also named the 2001 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by the University of Phoenix and received the 2003 Mason Lankford National Fire Service Leadership Award presented by the Congressional Fire Services Institute and Motorola.