The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is delighted to welcome Chief Frank Leeb as the incoming Managing Director of our affiliate organization, the First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE). He is a Deputy Assistant Chief in the Fire Department of New York and has held several senior staff positions during his 30+ year career, including the Chief of the Fire Academy, Chief of Training, and the Chief of Safety. Frank has also been a member of the East Farmingdale Fire Department since 1983 (Long Island NY).

FRCE’s mission is to promote quality educational awareness and research to reduce physical and psychological health and wellness issues for first responders. Frank is a long-time champion and advocate for firefighter health and wellness and has written and presented on firefighter occupational cancer on many occasions. He has lectured nationally and internationally on motivation, preparedness, leadership, strategy and tactics, and firefighter health and wellness.

Frank holds a bachelor’s degree in fire service administration from SUNY Empire State and a master’s degree in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS). He has served as an advisory panel member for UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute’s (FSRI) “Study of Coordinated Attack in Acquired Structures” and chair of the FRCE cancer advisory committee. Frank is also a principal on the NFPA Technical Committees 420, 1585, and 1710 and was the keynote speaker for Firehouse Expo in 2022 a presenter at the U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control in 2022 and 2023.  He is the author of the best-selling book “Cornerstones of Leadership – On and Off the Fireground.”