NVFC announces session line-up for 2026 Training Summit in Virginia
Iain Hoey
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NVFC Training Summit dates and location confirmed
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced the session line-up for its 2026 NVFC Training Summit, scheduled for 26 to 27 June 2026 in Arlington, VA.
The organisation said the event will feature three learning tracks focused on responder health and safety, volunteer recruitment and retention and emergency service leadership.
It added that registration will open in January.
The line-up of sessions and instructors is now available.
NVFC track structure and session count
NVFC said attendees will be able to choose from 18 sessions.
The organisation said the sessions will be taught by nationally recognised subject matter experts and fire service leaders.
It added that the programme is split across three tracks.
Those tracks are Health and Safety, Leadership and Recruitment and Retention.
Health and Safety track sessions listed
NVFC listed six Health and Safety sessions for the 2026 NVFC Training Summit.
The sessions are The Power of Hope: Strengthening Resilience and Well-Being in First Responders, Response Time Matters in Early Cancer Detection and Developing a NFPA/OSHA Compliant Fire Department Training Program.
NVFC also listed Using AI to Enhance Educational Messages and Outreach, Red Lights, Blue Lights, Gun Fights: Tactics for Violent Calls and Realistic Training for Brush Fire Response.
The instructors named for those sessions are Wendy Norris, Sandy Danault, Douglas Cline, E. Brene Ball, Dane Yaw and Jeremy Keller.
Leadership track sessions cover funding and culture
NVFC listed six sessions within its Leadership track.
The course titles include Money Matters: Grants and Growth for Departments and Holding the Line: First In Leadership for Safer Roadway Incidents.
NVFC also listed Going Combination and Preserving Your Volunteers and Building a Culture of Excellence, Teamwork and Camaraderie.
The remaining Leadership sessions are High Performance Leadership in Emergency Services: A Chief’s Olympic Perspective and Iron Sharpens Iron: Building Stronger Fire Service Leaders.
The instructors named for the Leadership track are Dan Kramer, Todd Leiss, Joseph Maruca, Thomas Merrill, Jason Read and Al Yancey.
Recruitment and Retention track focuses on people and messaging
NVFC said the Recruitment and Retention track also includes six sessions.
The organisation listed Successful Volunteer Retention and Recruitment in the Fire Service and Igniting Purpose: Encouraging Women to Explore the Fire Service.
NVFC also named Is Your Department a Place You Would Join and Managing People, Not Just Fires: HR in Volunteer Service.
The remaining sessions in the track are Are You Telling Your Story Effectively? Marketing for Fire Departments and Finding the Why: Passion-Driven Recruitment for Fire and EMS Volunteers.
The instructors named are Dr. Candice McDonald, Jen Elleraas, Lee Price, Pamela Rogers, Kimberly Hilsenbeck and Walter Campbell.