Leadership

The Firehouse Yak: Jacob Johnson - Successful Mentoring in the Fire Service

Jan. 11, 2024

Peter Matthews catches up with Assistant Fire Chief Jacob Johnson, who explains what mentoring is in the fire service and how to become a successful mentor/mentee.

Jacob Johnson,

Peter Matthews

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Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews talks with Pearland, TX, Assistant Fire Chief Jacob Johnson about mentoring in the fire service. Johnson has been blazing the path to re-introduce mentoring to all ranks within the fire service and he shares his views on the best way to mentor, and how mentees can seek trusted coaches.

Whether your a veteran firefighter or officer, or a new relatively new member, Johnson shares practical and advice that's easy to implement to better prepare the future of your department.

The two discuss ideas for each rank to be successful, and what mentoring truly is in the fire service, plus a look at some of Chief Johnson's favorite books.

Resources:

About the Author

Jacob Johnson

Jacob Johnson started at the Katy, TX, Volunteer Fire Department as a Junior Explorer Post Firefighter at 15 years old. Throughout the years, he moved up in the ranks until he changed departments in 2007. Johnson was one of the original full-time members who was hired by the Pearland, TX, Fire Department, where he currently sits today as a member of administration, serving as an assistant chief. Johnson has taught at numerous schools in Texas and has traveled over the past year to teach his mentoring and leadership class.

About the Author

Peter Matthews | Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director

Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department.