Mike Novak is the division chief of training and safety for Branson, MO, Fire Rescue. He entered the fire service in 1989 as a volunteer firefighter for the Western Taney County, MO, Fire Protection District. Novak's areas of responsibility with Branson include training program management as well as health and incident safety. He serves as the Region 7 Volunteer Advocate Manager for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s Everyone Goes Home program. Novak holds a master’s degree in public administration in emergency services administration from Columbia Southern University and is credentialed as a Chief Fire Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence and as an Executive Fire Officer through the National Fire Academy.