NYSAFC Announces 116th Annual Conference & FIRE 2022 Expo Keynote Speaker

Chief Thomas J. Richardson (Fire Department City of New York/Deer Park Fire Department) will deliver the keynote address for the NYSAFC 116th Annual Conference & FIRE 2022 Expo.

Richardson will present “Staying Focused on the Mission” during the General Session on Thursday, June 16, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown – Finger Lakes Ballroom. The keynote address, sponsored by VFIS, is open to all attendees.

When we raise our right hand and take the oath of office to serve, we become obligated to a moral imperative that should not be taken lightly. Our mission, simply stated, is to save lives and protect property. What defines success for your organization in meeting the mission? How do you measure success? These are complicated questions that require a collective effort by leadership. Chief Richardson will discuss his perspective on how to achieve success in your organization. Leading and managing a volunteer, career, or combination department by today’s standards is challenging. Our communities deserve quality and competent service. It starts by all members understanding the mission and a well-communicated leader's intent on how success will be measured and achieved.

Tom Richardson retired as chief of department of the Fire Department City of New York (FDNY) in January 2022 after 41 years of service. Richardson also served as chief of the Deer Park Volunteer Fire Department (1999-2000, 2009-2011), where he has been a member for 42 years. He has been a deputy chief instructor at the Suffolk County Fire Academy since 1991. Richardson's formal education includes a Master's Degree in homeland security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in community and human services. He also completed FDNY’s Fire Officer Management Institute, a Columbia University Executive Leadership program, and the FDNY/USMA at West Point Combating Terrorism Program. Richardson has been a member of NYSAFC since 1985.

Thank you to our sponsor, VFIS.