Director of Fire Service Programs
Daniel (Danny) T. Kistner retired following a successful career in the fire service, serving the last 14 years as the fire chief. He is a proven and innovative public-sector leader who has thrived in dynamic situations for over forty years. Daniel is regarded as an industry leader and innovator on various high-impact topics including firefighter safety and health, adaptive leadership, professionalism, and prehospital medical services. Never satisfied with the status quo, Daniel championed causes that resulted in creating an advisory committee for Texas fire service regulators on firefighter health and wellness, and a requirement for all Texas-regulated firefighters to complete the Courage to be Safe program. Daniel introduced programs to enhance community health and resiliency, including implementing novel community healthcare innovations into fire-based EMS. Daniel is an accomplished author and speaker with articles appearing in fire service periodicals, texts, and whitepapers. He presented at multiple venues including Fire-Rescue International, CPSE Excellence Conference, Fire Rescue Med, Texas Municipal League, Texas Fire Chief’s Association’s first Line of Duty Death Conference, and others. The leadership lessons gleaned from over 40 years of experience cross industry lines and find application in every setting.
Danny Kistner was conferred a Doctor of Liberal Studies degree from Southern Methodist University, Dallas TX. He earned his Master’s degree from Oklahoma State University and his undergraduate from Western Oregon University. He received a fellowship to Harvard’s Kennedy School, Senior Executives in State and Local Government program, Cambridge MA in 2011. He is a Fellow with the Institute of Fire Engineers, a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg MD, and held the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence since 2006. He was a Board member of the IAFC’s Safety Health and Survival Section for 10 years and was a past president of the Texas Fire Chief’s Association. Daniel served on the Community Relations Council for the North Texas Job Corps, Advisory Committee for the non-profit One Heart McKinney charitable foundation, and was past president and 3-time Paul Harris Fellow with the McKinney Rotary Club. He was most recently appointed to the Fire Advisory Council for Waldorf University.
Danny Kistner is the Lead Coordinator for Fire Programs Outreach and Education with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, an Adjunct Instructor for Executive Programs with TEEX, Associate Vice President of Recruitment Services for Clear Career Professionals, and the owner of DTK Consulting, LLC.
