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Chief Rob Ramirez returns to the show to talk about one of the most unique opportunities in modern firefighting: helping build a brand-new fire department from the ground up. He shares stories of leadership, culture, training, and staying sharp after leaving the fire truck.
Segment Breakdown & Timestamps
[0:00 – 0:07] Intro & Career Leap
Rob returns to the podcast, recounting his jump from 20+ years in operations to a command role in a new department.
[0:07 – 0:14] Why Start Now? The Motivation Behind the Move
Rob explains the rare opportunity to help shape something from scratch and how it aligned with his career goals.
[0:14 – 0:21] Starting from Zero: Gear, Trucks, and Policies
Details about acquiring vehicles, setting SOPs, navigating town bureaucracy, and learning fast.
[0:21 – 0:28] Building the Team: Hiring & Leadership Philosophy
Rob outlines their recruitment strategy, training plans, and what type of people they’re looking for.
[0:28 – 0:35] Laying the Training Foundation
Why training won’t be optional. Rob discusses shift-based training, officer development, and ongoing standards.
[0:35 – 0:42] The Isolation of Leadership
What it feels like to be out of the action, staying connected to fireground competency, and the temptation to slip into admin-only thinking.
[0:42 – 0:49] How Culture is Built: People, Trust, and Accountability
The role of informal leaders, gatekeepers of culture, and using character-first hiring to prevent future problems.
[0:49 – 0:56] Handling Mistakes & Measuring Growth
After-action reviews, creating safe learning environments, and how Rob approaches performance evaluation.
[0:56 – 1:03] Search Urgency, Real-World Fire Talk & Caring About the Job
Rob and the host dissect a recent fireground situation involving victim removal, and what it reveals about urgency and culture.
[1:03 – 1:11] Mentorship, Mastery, and Long-Term Vision
Mentorship models, when to promote, and how the right people and structure create long-term excellence.
Key Moments
“You can’t read your own label from inside the jar.”
Rob’s final fire call as a captain, ending with gratitude and fireground clarity.
The skunk-in-the-parking-lot moment—and what it teaches about perspective.
“Our people are our greatest ambassadors.”
Resources & Mentions:
Guest Info: Chief Rob Ramirez
Division Chief of Training, Jupiter Fire Rescue
Founder of Mayday Mindset
National fire instructor and speaker
By Jake Ryks5
1414 ratings
Chief Rob Ramirez returns to the show to talk about one of the most unique opportunities in modern firefighting: helping build a brand-new fire department from the ground up. He shares stories of leadership, culture, training, and staying sharp after leaving the fire truck.
Segment Breakdown & Timestamps
[0:00 – 0:07] Intro & Career Leap
Rob returns to the podcast, recounting his jump from 20+ years in operations to a command role in a new department.
[0:07 – 0:14] Why Start Now? The Motivation Behind the Move
Rob explains the rare opportunity to help shape something from scratch and how it aligned with his career goals.
[0:14 – 0:21] Starting from Zero: Gear, Trucks, and Policies
Details about acquiring vehicles, setting SOPs, navigating town bureaucracy, and learning fast.
[0:21 – 0:28] Building the Team: Hiring & Leadership Philosophy
Rob outlines their recruitment strategy, training plans, and what type of people they’re looking for.
[0:28 – 0:35] Laying the Training Foundation
Why training won’t be optional. Rob discusses shift-based training, officer development, and ongoing standards.
[0:35 – 0:42] The Isolation of Leadership
What it feels like to be out of the action, staying connected to fireground competency, and the temptation to slip into admin-only thinking.
[0:42 – 0:49] How Culture is Built: People, Trust, and Accountability
The role of informal leaders, gatekeepers of culture, and using character-first hiring to prevent future problems.
[0:49 – 0:56] Handling Mistakes & Measuring Growth
After-action reviews, creating safe learning environments, and how Rob approaches performance evaluation.
[0:56 – 1:03] Search Urgency, Real-World Fire Talk & Caring About the Job
Rob and the host dissect a recent fireground situation involving victim removal, and what it reveals about urgency and culture.
[1:03 – 1:11] Mentorship, Mastery, and Long-Term Vision
Mentorship models, when to promote, and how the right people and structure create long-term excellence.
Key Moments
“You can’t read your own label from inside the jar.”
Rob’s final fire call as a captain, ending with gratitude and fireground clarity.
The skunk-in-the-parking-lot moment—and what it teaches about perspective.
“Our people are our greatest ambassadors.”
Resources & Mentions:
Guest Info: Chief Rob Ramirez
Division Chief of Training, Jupiter Fire Rescue
Founder of Mayday Mindset
National fire instructor and speaker

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