John Alston

John Alston is a 38-year veteran of Emergency Management. He is a Certified Speaker, Executive Coach, Trainer, and Behavioral Analyst. As a First Responder to the World Trade Center, on September 11, 2001, John witnessed leadership and courage on a grand scale which impacted his life forever.

For more than six years, John has served as the Fire Chief of the New Haven Fire Department. John is a retired member of the Jersey City Fire Department, with over 31 years there. As a former Master Instructor for the International Association of Fire Fighters, John trained hundreds of firefighters, fire officers, and first responders around the nation. He is a certified Instructor-Trainer through the National Fire Academy and the American Red Cross. He is the former Operations Director and Chair of Curriculum for the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute where he trained and coached hundreds of Emergency Management Officers to become Executive Officers. John has been blessed to travel and train all over the world.

John is, currently, the Executive Director of the Fire Officer Trust where he coaches First Responders, Law Enforcement Officers, and Emergency Management Leaders in their command roles and responsibilities during large-scale emergencies. His services have now extended to other Agencies, Organizations, Leaders, and Managers to aid and support their personal and professional growth.

John is a frequent keynote speaker, presenter, and panelist on a variety of topics, from Leadership and Emergency Management to Response to the Opioid Crisis.

In the arena of leadership, Alston sets himself apart, by focusing on people, before the problem.