Past Assistant Chief
Syosset Fire Department
New York, NY
Robert Leonard has 39 years of experience as a firefighter, officer, EMT, and fire instructor. He has led communications for major emergency service agencies, including serving as Deputy Director of Public Information for the FDNY and Deputy Press Secretary for Uniformed and Emergency Services to the Mayor of the City of New York. He is currently an Executive Vice President at DKC Public Relations, leading the public safety and local government practice, and is a nationally recognized author and lecturer on media relations and crisis communications.
Robert began his emergency response career in 1986 and served as a NYC*EMS Public Information Officer, responding to major incidents including aviation emergencies, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and the Happy Land Social Club Fire. He later held senior public information roles with the City of New York.
Robert began his fire service career in 1990 with the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department and currently serves with the Syosset Fire Department, where he is an Ex-Captain and former Assistant Chief. He also serves as Second Deputy Chief Instructor at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy and remains a dedicated student of the fire service.
Give most fire and EMS officers and chiefs the choice between performing a media interview and undergoing a root canal, and many would choose the dentist’s chair over the cameras and lights. However, effectively sharing our message through the media is an important responsibility of being a fire and EMS leader.
Fire and EMS officers and chiefs practice incident command, safety procedures, and other operational disciplines regularly—ensuring they are prepared when the alarm sounds. Emergency service leaders need to bring the same dedication to learning and developing the “muscle memory” required to effectively interact with the news media.
In this highly interactive session, participants will learn how to manage media interview opportunities and use the news media as a tool to help deliver their message to the public. The session will examine examples of strong media performances by fire and EMS officers and chiefs while providing students with a basic foundation in media interview techniques they can use the next time they are faced with a camera or microphone at a fire, emergency scene, or station.
