Kenneth W. Richards, Jr., has been in the fire service since 1976 and has been the career fire chief in Old Mystic, CT, for 27 years. He holds a master’s degree in leadership and is a Certified Fire Officer IV and Fire Instructor III. Richards has been on the NFPA Technical Committee on Fire Service Training for 18 years and has served as the chair since 2010. He also is a member of the NFPA Standards Council.