James Cook
Seymour,Texas
Summary
Career fire service professional with nearly 20 years of operational, instructional, and leadership experience. Known for developing firefighters through intentional mentorship, leading from the front, and raising operational standards. Currently serving as Training Officer and active instructor with Rural Fire Tactics and Wichita HOT.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Training Officer
Decatur Fire Department
10.2022 - Current
- Serves as the department's lead authority for training, education, certification compliance, and professional development.
- Designs, implements, and manages standards-based training programs aligned with TCFP and NFPA requirements.
- Oversees training documentation, certification tracking, performance evaluation processes, and organizational readiness initiatives.
- Developed and implemented department-wide live-fire, company operations, officer development, and firefighter performance programs focused on operational excellence and risk reduction.
- Develops lesson plans, live-fire training evolutions, after-action review processes, and multi-year training strategies.
- Advises command staff regarding organizational readiness, capability gaps, succession planning, and future training priorities.
- Leads instructor development efforts while building internal systems that support long-term organizational growth.
Captain/Training Officer
Sansom Park Fire Department
03.2022 - 10.2022
- Directed departmental training initiatives, instructor development, certification compliance, and firefighter development programs
Captain
Parker County ESD 1
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Supervised emergency operations, personnel development, and company-level training initiatives.
Captain
Vernon Fire/EMS
01.2008 - 01.2020
- Progressed through the ranks while serving in emergency operations, personnel development, training, and company leadership assignments.
- Created in-house fire academy and EMT school including leading AEMT classes.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Fire Services Administration
Weatherford College
Weatheford TX01-2020
Associate of Applied Science - Fire Protection & Safety Technology
Weatherford College
Weatherford TX01-2021
Skills
- Train-the-trainer
- Facilitation techniques
- Class design
- E-learning development
- Lesson planning
- Technical training
- Lesson development
- Training delivery
- Employee mentoring
- Materials preparation
- Feedback collection
- Technological integration
- Learning management systems
- Assessment tools
- Employee counseling
- Adult learning theory
- Needs assessment
- Materials organization
- Diversity and inclusion
- Training metrics
- Program management
- Technology use
- Employee engagement
- Clear communication
- Work coordination
- Training program development
- Leadership development
- Documentation and recordkeeping
- Program design
- Employee performance reviews
- Project implementation
- Training program design
- Procedure manual writing
- Quality assurance
- Virtual learning management
- Curriculum design
- Training material development
- Program monitoring and tracking
- Course materials development
Certification
- TCFP Instructor III – Master
- TCFP Master Structure Firefighter
- TCFP Driver Operator – Pumper
- TCFP Fire Officer III
- Live Fire Instructor – NFPA 1041 (2019 Ed., Pro Board Certified)
- CPSE Chief Training Officer - CTO
Instructional Involvement
- Cadre Member – Rural Fire Tactics
- Instructor – Wichita HOT (Hands-On Training)
Timeline
Training Officer
Decatur Fire Department
10.2022 - Current
Captain/Training Officer
Sansom Park Fire Department
03.2022 - 10.2022
Captain
Parker County ESD 1
01.2020 - 01.2021
Captain
Vernon Fire/EMS
01.2008 - 01.2020
Associate of Applied Science - Fire Services Administration
Weatherford College
Associate of Applied Science - Fire Protection & Safety Technology
Weatherford College