Posted on November 24, 2025 • County Fire Tactics • Florida Fire Conference Series
Level Up Your Fire Leadership at Pensacola Beach’s Premier Florida Fire Conference
Are you ready to move beyond checking boxes and actually change the way you lead? The 2026 Officer Development Program (ODP) is built for firefighters, fire officers, and chief officers who want more than another lecture — they want real, applicable leadership and command skills they can bring home to their crews.
From January 5–9, 2026, at the Hilton Pensacola Beach, this 40-hour, five-day program delivers a focused mix of leadership, strategy, tactics, and command specifically designed for today’s fire service. Whether you’re preparing for promotion or already wearing the bugles, ODP helps you operate with more clarity on the fireground and in the firehouse.
Why ODP Stands Out in a Sea of Fire Conferences
In a crowded field of Florida Fire Conferences and national fire service events, the County Fire Tactics Officer Development Program has earned a reputation for being different. ODP isn’t a random collection of breakout sessions — it’s a structured, career-defining officer curriculum.
You won’t sit through thin content or generic leadership clichés. Instead, you’ll spend five days in an immersive program where:
- Leadership, strategy, tactics, and communication are woven together like the real world, not separated into silos.
- 100% attendance and a professional dress standard set the tone that this is serious officer development.
- You train alongside firefighters and officers who are just as committed as you are.
Set on Pensacola Beach, Florida, ODP combines the focus of an intensive officer school with the reset of a beachfront environment — ideal for absorbing heavy concepts during the day and decompressing in the evening.
Inspired by the Training Culture of the 850
Northwest Florida’s 850 corridor is known for training operators to perform at a high level before they deploy anywhere in the world. ODP draws on that same mindset for the fire service: build confident, adaptable officers who can function in any environment.
Just as military crews train to work in different terrains, this Florida Fire Conference prepares officers to lead in:
- Urban districts with high-rise, mid-rise, and dense mixed-use buildings.
- Suburban neighborhoods with variable staffing and mixed occupancies.
- Rural areas with long response times, limited resources, and tanker operations.
- Peri-urban (rurban) interfaces where city, wildland, and commercial sprawl collide.
If you want training that reflects the complexity of where you actually work, this is where you’ll get it.
World-Class Instructors Who Shape the Fire Service
Your 2026 ODP experience is guided by a lineup of nationally recognized instructors who continue to shape the modern fire service. These are the same names you see on FDIC programs, major conference agendas, and in fire service publications — now brought together on Pensacola Beach.
They’re not fly-in, speak, and disappear presenters. They are FDIC-level instructors and proven leaders who stay accessible — available in the classroom, at breaks, and during nightly socials to answer questions, share experience, and offer real-world advice you can apply immediately.
Meet Your 2026 ODP Instructor Team
Get face-to-face access to fire service leaders delivering leadership, strategy, tactics, and command lessons shaped by real experience on urban, suburban, rural, and rurban firegrounds.
Candace Ashby
Battalion Chief, Indianapolis, IN
A Curriculum Built to Transform Firefighters Into Leaders
The Officer Development Program goes far beyond basic officer skills. The curriculum is structured around three core pillars:
Strategic Leadership Development
Learn how to lead in both directions: toward your chiefs and toward your crews. You’ll work through size-up, situational command, communication under pressure, conflict resolution, and building a culture that performs when it counts.
Advanced Fireground Tactics & Command
Move past theory and dive into real incidents, case studies, and command simulations. You’ll explore decision-making at commercial, residential, high-rise, suburban, and rural fires — focusing on timing, coordination, and risk management across different environments.
Professional Growth & Career Development
ODP helps you think beyond the next promotion list. You’ll gain insight on preparing for assessment centers, improving your presence as an officer, and managing the long game of a fire service career — with mentorship and guidance from instructors who have already walked that path.
A Complete Fire Conference Experience
Your registration investment is more than a seat in a classroom. You’re getting a full Florida Fire Conference experience designed around learning, networking, and long-term impact:
- 40 Hours of Intensive Training – Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
- Professional Networking – Daily interaction with firefighters, officers, and chiefs from across the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, Germany, and the UK.
- Evening Social Activities – Nightly beachfront meet-ups where you can continue conversations, ask follow-up questions, and build relationships that last far beyond the week.
- Certificate & CEUs – Florida certified Firefighters receive 40 hours of continuing education units through the Florida State Fire College upon successful completion.
Even if you’re not from Florida, the CEUs and certificate clearly reflect the value the Florida Bureau of Fire Standards and Training places on this program.
Family-Friendly, Beachfront Setting
One of the best parts of ODP is that you don’t have to choose between your career and your family. Pensacola Beach offers a family-friendly setting where your crew at home can enjoy:
- White sand beaches and clear Gulf water
- Family-friendly restaurants and attractions
- Indoor pool and amenities at the Hilton
- Nearby destinations like the National Naval Aviation Museum, Gulf Breeze Zoo, Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the Navarre Beach sea turtle conservation area
January brings cooler temps to the Gulf, fewer crowds, and plenty of opportunities for your family to explore while you’re in class.
Unbeatable Value, Travel, and Convenience
Early Bird Registration: $400
(Regular price: $750)
Your registration covers all training sessions, access to instructors, evening networking events, and multiple conference-week discounts. When you compare that to sending officers to several smaller courses, the 2026 Fire Officer Development Program is one of the best values in officer development.
Beachfront Accommodations from $99/night
Stay in the middle of the action at the Hilton Pensacola Beach, with discounted rooms, Gulf views, and a short walk to every ODP activity.
FREE Airport Transportation
County Fire Tactics provides complimentary shuttle service between Pensacola International Airport (PNS) and the Hilton:
- Arrivals: Sunday, January 4, 2026, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Departures: Saturday, January 10, 2026, 3:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Professional Standards That Match the Mission
ODP maintains standards that reflect the seriousness of officer development:
- Monday: Class A uniform or professional button-up shirt
- Tuesday–Friday: Business casual, collared shirt minimum
- Name tags: Issued for accountability and networking
- 100% Attendance: Required for certificate and CEUs
These guidelines aren’t about checking boxes — they’re about creating an environment where everyone shows up prepared, focused, and representing their department and the fire service with pride.
Register Now – Seats Are Limited
With the program approaching and attendance capped to protect the quality of instruction and interaction, now is the time to secure your spot.
Whether you’re a firefighter preparing for promotion, a company officer ready to sharpen your command, or a chief who wants to send the next generation of leaders to a proven Florida Fire Conference, the 2026 Officer Development Program delivers the training, networking, and perspective you need.
Ready to step up?
Visit the ODP registration page on CountyFireTactics.com, claim your seat, and join firefighters, fire officers,
and chief officers who have already leveled up their leadership through the Officer Development Program.
