Robert S. Fleming, Ed.D.

Dr. Robert S. Fleming, ED.D, a professor of management and past dean of the Rowan University Rohrer College of Business, is a highly respected author, instructor, conference speaker, researcher, and consultant within the fire and emergency services. He also holds an affiliate appointment as a professor of crisis and emergency management. The primary focus of his teaching, research, consulting, and other professional activities has been on the enhancement of organizational effectiveness and resilience, with an emphasis on local, county, state, regional, and national fire and emergency services organizations.

Dr. Fleming has been actively involved in fire and emergency services for more than 50 years, during which time he has demonstrated his commitment to preparing present and future fire and emergency services leaders by skillfully combining his unique talents as a fire service and management educator. Through his teaching, writing, and conference presentations, he has mentored numerous members of the fire and emergency services as they prepared to successfully enact their roles and responsibilities as administrative and operational leaders, including as company and chief officers. He has shared his extensive experience as a chief officer and administrator in three fire departments, including serving as fire chief.

Dr. Fleming currently serves as deputy chief of administration in the Goshen Fire Company of West Chester, Pennsylvania. His extensive professional activities have included serving on the National Fire Academy Board of Visitors for 13 years, including 6 years as vice chairman and 6 years as chairman. 

 

He has served as president of the Keystone Chapter Fire Service Instructors, as board chairman of the New Jersey Society of Fire Service Instructors, and as chairman of the Certified Fire Protection Specialist Board. He has served on the Technical Committee on Fire Officer Professional Qualifications for National Fire Protection Association 1021: Standard on Fire Officer Professional Qualifications for many years.

“Dr. Bob,” as his colleagues and students call him, is a certified fire instructor in Pennsylvania and New Jersey with numerous professional certifications and designations, including Chief Fire Officer, Executive Fire Officer, and Certified Fire Protection Specialist. He has contributed to all of the major fire service publications and has created and presented numerous professional development programs. He has frequently been called on by print, radio, and television media sources as a subject matter expert on an array of fire and emergency services issues ranging from local incidents and concerns to those of national scope and consequences.

In addition to a doctorate in higher education administration, Dr. Fleming has five earned master’s degrees, including a Master of Government Administration from the Fels Institute of Government of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and has completed the Senior Executives in National and International Security Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

 

His recent books include Survival Skills for the Fire Chief, Emergency Incident Media Coverage, Company Officer for Fire and Emergency Services, and Effective Fire and Emergency Services Administration, published by Fire Engineering Books.