Jim Silvernail is the fire chief of the Kirkwood Fire Department of St. Louis County, Missouri, and a 25-year veteran of the fire service. He is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program and is internationally accredited as a Chief Fire Officer through the Center of Public Safety Excellence.

Chief Silvernail is the author of Suburban Fire Tactics and the co-author of Suburban Fire Tactics from the Right Seat. In addition to Suburban Fire Tactics, Jim has written numerous articles for Fire Engineering Magazine. He was a lead instructor at the St. Louis County Fire Academy, specializing in truck company operations. He shares his message nationally and has presented at FDIC for the past 10 years. 

Chief Silvernail served on the board of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and has also served as a Planning Team Manager of Missouri Task Force 1, a FEMA Urban Search & Rescue team.