Date

8-2026

ESRP 9000 Professor

Daniel Turner, Ed.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Daniel Turner, Ed.D.

Executive Summary

Tiered Resiliency Training to Combat Occupational PTSD in the Fire Service. Damien Dove, 2025: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: burnout, firefighters, PTSD, resiliency, stress, trauma

This strategic research project examined occupational post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a significant organizational challenge within the Small Town Fire Department (STFD). As a growing suburban fire department, STFD possesses numerous strengths, including a positive public reputation, competitive employee benefits, and a commitment to operational excellence. However, the department also faces challenges common throughout the fire service, including increasing call volume, staffing shortages, and the cumulative psychological and physiological effects of sleep deprivation, chronic stress, and repeated exposure to traumatic events. The purpose of this project was to evaluate these organizational conditions through a strategic leadership lens and develop an evidence-based solution to improve firefighter well-being and organizational effectiveness.

A comprehensive strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis, internal and external factor evaluation (IFE-EFE) matrices, and a quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) were used to assess the organization, identify the underlying problem, evaluate potential solutions, and determine the most appropriate implementation strategy. The findings demonstrated that occupational PTSD is a critical organizational issue requiring leadership-driven intervention rather than solely individual treatment. A review of current literature identified four evidence-based solutions: resiliency training, trauma-focused therapy, stress inoculation training, and enhanced peer support. Following evaluation using the QSPM, the tiered-based resiliency training model emerged as the preferred strategy because of its focus on prevention, adaptability, and long-term sustainability. The proposed action plan recommends phased implementation of resiliency training through leadership engagement, employee education, integration into recruit academies and annual training, and continuous evaluation.

This project concludes that organizational leadership is essential to promoting firefighter mental health and fostering psychologically healthy workplaces. Rather than relying primarily on reactive treatment after psychological injury occurs, fire departments should adopt proactive strategies that integrate resiliency education, leadership development, peer support, and ongoing organizational evaluation into routine operations. Although developed specifically for the STFD, these recommendations have broader applications for fire departments, emergency medical services (EMS) agencies, and emergency healthcare organizations facing similar occupational stressors.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and the School of Criminal Justice

Concentration

Organizational Leadership

Language

English

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