How Chief Crispen Went Straight From Battalion Chief to Fire Chief at the San Francisco Fire Department (with Dean Crispen) Ep | 64

In this episode, Fire Chief Dean Crispen of the San Francisco Fire Department shares lessons from his journey into administration and offers insight on what it takes to thrive at the top. He unpacks how to build strong collaboration when a new Mayor, Fire Chief, and Union President all step in at once — and why coaching youth sports surprisingly mirrors running a major fire department. From motivating teams with different drive levels to learning from others’ missteps, Chief Crispen shares practical strategies that every leader can use. Plus, he discusses how living outside of your city’s limits can shape — and sometimes challenge — department culture.