Robert Kiel Samsing

Robert Kiel Samsing

Lieutenant
Newport News Fire Department
Newport News, VA

Kiel Samsing is a firefighter, paramedic, neuroscience coach, and author. He serves as a Lieutenant with the Newport News Fire Department and brings nearly 20 years of experience in the fire and EMS profession. Kiel has taught nationwide on topics including firefighting, decision-making, and leadership. He is the author of Mind of Fire: The Science and Art of Decision Making, a book focused on improving decision-making under pressure by applying principles from neuroscience and human performance. He uses his expertise to help individuals and organizations better understand decision-making, leadership, and performance in high-stress environments.

Mind of Fire: The Science and Art of Decision Making (Thursday, October 22, 2026 - 2:15-5:15pm)

Firefighting is less about having the perfect answer and more about choosing the next right action when time, information, and conditions are working against you. Mind of Fire is a dynamic, experience-driven class that explores how firefighters and officers think, make decisions, and perform under pressure. Led by fire officer, author, and neuroscience coach Kiel Samsing, this presentation blends real-world fireground experience with the science of perception, stress, and decision-making. Participants will examine how the brain processes uncertainty, why mistakes occur in high-risk environments, and how to recover and adapt in real time. The class focuses on recognizing opportunities, building momentum, regulating the body and brain under stress, and avoiding common cognitive traps that can degrade performance. Mind of Fire is designed for anyone who wants to sharpen their thinking, improve performance under pressure, and make better decisions when it matters most.