The Hazmat Mindset: Building the Future Responder Adapting, Leading, and Thriving Amid the Next Generation of Hazmat Challenges Instructor: Retired Chief Michael P. Wallace, EFO, MBA, MA, HRCI, CAPM Format: Interactive Class Discussion • Student Engagement • Guided Presentation Course Description This highly interactive course is designed for hazmat responders, team leaders, and command-level personnel who are ready to evolve beyond procedures and into a mindset-based approach to high-risk operations. Through facilitated discussion, guided presentations, scenario exploration, and student-driven dialogue, participants will critically examine how the next generation of hazmat challenges requires more than technical expertise—it demands emotional intelligence, strategic adaptability, purpose-driven leadership, and predictive awareness. Students actively engage in conversation-based learning built around real-world scenarios, introspective prompts, and command-level decision challenges. Participants will contribute personal experiences, discuss operational successes and failures, and exchange perspectives to better understand how personal purpose, team identity, and culture directly influence safety and performance under pressure. The instructor incorporates narrative-based teaching—including The Handshake That Started It All, The Person Behind the Mask, The Scene Is the Mirror of the Station, and The Story of the Starfish—creating a compelling environment where students explore human performance, leadership dynamics, and the power of mindset in hazmat response. Key Learning Themes Participants will engage in live discussion and guided reflection around core concepts, including: • Changing the Way We Do Hazmat – Traditions that shape us vs. mindsets that sustain us. • Purpose Under Pressure – The WHY behind the suit and how purpose drives composure. • Capability vs. Capacity – Decisions that determine survivability for responders. • The Person Behind the Mask – Precision, patience, and emotional intelligence in crisis. • Growth vs. Closed Mindset – Balancing heritage with innovation. • Situational + Predictive Awareness – Shaping outcome before arrival. • Everyday Leadership – Micro-leadership actions that define legacy and performance. • Team Mindset & Communication – From individual strength to collective resilience. • The Standard You Walk Past – Accountability culture in pre-incident behavior. • Brand Leadership & Legacy – What your actions say before your words do. Instructional Style ✔ Facilitated class discussion ✔ Active student participation ✔ Guided keynote-style presentation ✔ Real-world stories and emotional engagement ✔ Purpose and mindset prompts (“What’s your Why?”) ✔ Group reflection & tactical decision dialogue ✔ Leadership-oriented activity questions Learning Objectives By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 1. Demonstrate understanding of purpose-driven hazmat operations and explain how personal purpose influences decision-making. 2. Apply EI (Emotional Intelligence) principles to high-stress hazmat scenarios. 3. Identify and mitigate human factors such as tunnel vision, complacency, and operational fatigue. 4. Compare capability-based vs. capacity-based decision models in tactical risk mitigation. 5. Analyze the impact of station culture on scene performance. 6. Assess how leadership behaviors—both active and passive—affect incident outcomes. 7. Move from technician-level mindset to tactical thinker mindset through predictive awareness. 8. Articulate how personal brand, accountability, and legacy influence team cohesion and trust. Target Audience • Hazmat Technicians & Specialists • Hazmat Incident Commanders / Group Supervisors • Safety Officers & SOICs • Training Officers & Team Leaders • Company Officers transitioning into hazmat leadership roles • Senior responders looking to refine performance mindset Delivery Format & Requirements • Class Style: Highly interactive, discussion-centered • Presentation Support: Instructor-led presentation with Q&A integration • Participation: Students should be prepared to speak, reflect, and share experiences • No passive observation — all attendees contribute • “This is not a class you attend. It’s a class you help teach.” Closing Message from the Instructor “Hazmat is no longer just about information—it’s about transformation. You are not simply responders. You are guardians of the unseen, and every decision you make sets the standard for those who will follow. Together, let’s build safer teams, stronger leaders, and smarter responses—beyond the suit.” — Michael P. Wallace