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Is your leadership style rooted in image or service?

Chief Caughey urges leaders to avoid getting distracted by external, often ego-driven, symbols of the profession

Fire Chief Jason Caughey discusses the importance of leading by service rather than image. He reflects on the proud history of the fire service and stresses the importance of balancing passion and pride with genuine community service. Caughey raises essential questions about understanding community needs and aligning them with firefighter goals, urging leaders to focus on service-oriented leadership rather than getting distracted by external symbols of the profession.

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Chief Jason Caughey is a member of the FireRescue1 Editorial Advisory Board, serving as a senior fire advisor. He has been in the fire service for more than 20 years, serving in many capacities, including state trainer, volunteer firefighter, fire captain and volunteer fire chief. Caughey currently serves as fire chief of the Laramie County Fire Authority (LCFA) in Cheyenne, Wyoming. LCFA is a combination fire department with 100 members, 9 full-time members, 12 resident firefighters and 100 volunteer members protecting 25,000 citizens in Laramie County. Through eight strategically placed stations, the district covers and protects 1,150 square miles ranging from suburban development to rural ranch land. Caughey is committed to service of both the community and members of LCFA through progressive leadership that focuses on service, ownership and unity. Caughey has an associate degree and bachelor’s degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University and is currently working on his master’s in public administration. He also achieved his Executive Fire Officer designation from the National Fire Academy along with the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Connect with Caughey on LinkedIn or via email.