INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS

Tony Young spent 26 years with the Oklahoma City Fire Department promoting through the operations work section to Deputy Fire Chief and Public Information Officer.

Tony retired January 1st, 2008 and started with 1-800-BOARDUP January 2nd with our Oklahoma City office as their Director of Emergency Services. “I loved working on the local level, as we were able to make a positive impact with our citizens in their most dire time of need. I also enjoyed all the charitable events that our office participated in for the fire and police agencies all over Oklahoma,” Tony Said.

Tony began working for the 1-800-BOARDUP Home Office in February of 2008 on a part-time basis teaching the Fast Track classes, as well as becoming the companies first National Director of Emergency Services.

Tony recently celebrated 17 years at 1-800-BOARDUP, and enjoy the positive impact that he makes nationally with all our emergency services agencies, their citizens in their times of need, as well as the charitable endeavors that we participate in. Tony expresses, “This job is extremely rewarding in every way.”

Dr. Kane Nixon Ed. D. Dr. Kane Nixon is an emerging thought leader who helps public and private industry leaders enhance their work culture by fostering employee resilience. Kane travels around the United States, speaking about ethics, leadership, and wellness. Kane is the Deputy Chief of Planning, Health, Safety, and Wellness for the Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (AFMA). Kane has been in the fire service since 2001 and with AFMA since 2006. Kane is also an Adjunct Faculty member at Northern Arizona University and the Director of Firefighter Fitness and Conditioning at Glendale Community College. Kane is a Certified Public Manager and holds three associate degrees, a bachelor’s degree in emergency management and public Administration, a master’s degree in educational psychology, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, all from Northern Arizona University. Kane has a passion for serving others and does so as the Chair of the Fire & EMS Scholars Group of Science to the Station, aka The Science Alliance: a community of scientists, health care, and fire service professionals dedicated to providing critical information needed to improve the safety and health of firefighters and other first responders. Kane is currently the Arizona State Lead Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's Everyone Goes Home Program, District Representative for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, and regularly volunteers at St. Mary’s Food Bank. Kane’s mission is to live a purpose-driven life that inspires and empowers others to reach their fullest potential. Through continuous learning, empathy, and compassionate leadership, Kane strives to make a positive impact on the fire service and the world around him.

Chief Flynn joined the fire service in 1998. He has served West Bloomfield as a firefighter/paramedic, EMS Division Captain, Assistant Chief, and Fire Chief. Flynn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Safety Studies, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, and possesses a Master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School – Center for Homeland Defense & Security in Monterey, California.

Fire Chief Lipski joined the Milwaukee Fire Department in 1997, holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a master’s degree in Public Administration, both from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.  In his tenure, he has risen through every rank, filling key roles in the Division of Construction and Maintenance and Operations, ultimately overseeing the Support Bureau prior to his assignment as Fire Chief in late 2020.  Lipski sits on numerous boards, to include the American Lung Association, the American Red Cross, the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association, the Homeland and Terrorism Committee for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the Metro Fire Chiefs, and the Great Lakes Division of the IAFC.

Brian McNulty was appointed to the Milwaukee Fire Department in 1999. Brian spent 16 years as a company officer and was pivotal in the standing up of Milwaukee’s two Heavy Rescue Companies. He was the Captain of Rescue 2 for 13 years before being promoted to Battalion Chief in 2023. He is currently assigned to Battalion 1.