John is the CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute. Prior to being appointed as CEO, he served as Chief of the East Hartford, Connecticut Fire Department. He has a BS from Franklin Pierce University, a MS from Oklahoma State University, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, and holds numerous professional certifications. He is a long time contributor to the NFFF’s Everyone Goes Home Program. He serves as member of the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee created by the First Responder Center for Excellence, a NFFF affiliated organization. Chief Oates serves as a member of the NFPA 3000 Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response Technical Committee and the Technical Committee for Safety at Motorsports Venues (NFPA 610) where he served as Chairman from 2005 until 2016.