The CPSE Center for Innovation (CPSE CFI) held our second virtual Industry Advisory Council (IAC) meeting in July, bringing together 15 member organizations for a productive session focused on feedback, collaboration, and charting the path forward.

A Growing Coalition

Since the IAC’s inaugural meeting in December, membership has grown from 9 organizations to 15, a testament to the growing interest in collaborative, evidence-based innovation across the fire and emergency services industry. Representatives from a diverse cross-section of the field joined the conversation, including organizations focused on research, technology, data analytics, codes and standards, advocacy, training, and public safety.

Members organizations included:

  • Association of Fire and Emergency Services Analysts (AFESA)
  • Esri
  • FireRescue1
  • Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI)
  • First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE)
  • IDEX
  • International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
  • International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
  • International Code Council (ICC)
  • International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA)
  • International Public Safety Data Institute (IPSDI)
  • National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF)
  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
  • National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA)
  • Science to the Station (S2S)

Setting the Stage

Our Board President Jim Robinson, CFO, Fire Chief of the Greensboro (NC) Fire Department opened the session by welcoming members and reinforcing the Center’s purpose: to drive meaningful change in fire and emergency services through collaboration and cutting-edge solutions.

“Your expertise, whether it’s through technology, research, data analytics, or codes and standards, gives us a very diverse perspective that we truly need to innovate and drive change,” Robinson said.

CPSE CEO Preet Bassi, CAE, reflected on our trajectory, noting that while we became fully operational just one year ago, the concept has been in development for a decade. The Center was formed as a subsidiary of CPSE to explore proven practices without the structural constraints inherent in conformity assessment work.

“We knew that we wanted industry at the table as we knew that we couldn’t do it alone,” said Bassi. “We are so very thankful for your contributions and your expertise that we are going to tap into today.”

Reviewing Progress: Strategic Scans

A significant portion of the meeting focused on our Actionable Research program and its flagship product, our Strategic Scans. These reports are pulse-checks designed to build shared situational awareness across the industry on emerging topics, with results published more quickly than traditional academic research.

To date, the Center has published three Strategic Scans covering:

What’s in the Pipeline

The meeting also provided a preview of upcoming work and how IAC organizations could collaborate:

  • Drone as First Responder (DFR) Programs: This project took a different approach that our typical Scans by using a preliminary survey to identify departments to participate in a Task Force. Those in-depth discussions are informing a guide for effective and ethical DFR implementation. The results of the initial survey were published two days after the meeting.
  • Data Center Response and Preparedness: Our new Strategic Scan survey in partnership with NFPA is exploring training, preparedness, operations, and fire prevention considerations for these rapidly proliferating facilities.

Interactive Feedback and Discussion

Using Mentimeter polls and open discussion, IAC members provided feedback on our communication, the utility of Strategic Scans, ideas for extending research into practice, and potential topics for future exploration.

The conversation was wide-ranging and energetic, touching on how to broaden the reach of published reports, ways to translate findings into actionable tools such as model policies and implementation guides, and the value of cross-pollinating insights beyond the traditional fire service audience.

Members also brainstormed future Scan topics, with discussion spanning technology, community risk reduction, and fireground performance measurement.

Looking Ahead

The meeting underscored the IAC’s role not just as a sounding board, but as an active network of collaborators helping to shape our work and amplify impact. With several organizations approaching their one-year membership anniversary and new members joining this month, the Council is well-positioned to support our continued growth.

About CPSE CFI

The CPSE Center for Innovation serves as a catalyst for innovation in the fire and emergency service. A wholly owned 501(c)(3) nonprofit subsidiary of CPSE, CPSE CFI highlights innovative solutions developed by CPSE-accredited agencies and credentialed professionals and addresses an industry-wide gap in evidence-based decision making. Learn more at https://www.innovationcpse.org