Rick Edinger
Rick Edinger, EFO, has dedicated more than 50 years to public safety, serving as both a volunteer and career firefighter, medic, and hazardous materials responder. He retired in 2018 as Deputy Chief of Operations for a fire and EMS department in Virginia but remains actively involved in the field. Chief Edinger currently chairs the NFPA Technical Committee for Hazardous Materials Response Personnel and continues to consult, develop training curricula, and instruct in fire service and hazmat response topics. Over the course of his career, Chief Edinger served 25 years as a hazardous materials technician with the Chesterfield Fire & EMS Hazardous Incident Response Team. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science Technology from Columbia Southern University and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. Additionally, he possesses certifications in various incident management disciplines and has responded to emergencies at both the state and national levels.
Presentations:
Leading and Managing a Hazmat Response Program
Managing a hazardous materials response program requires knowledge, skills, and abilities that program managers need to successfully lead and support their programs. The purpose of this session is to provide attendees with an overview of model program management considerations and skill sets, will address the complexities of managing a hazmat response program, and permit attendees to better understand their roles and responsibilities as program managers.
NFPA Hazmat Standards Update
This presentation will provide an overview of the NFPA standards making process, review the NFPA hazmat standards and recommended practices, and afford insight into these standards and how they affect and influence hazardous materials training and response. Attendees will also receive an update on the outcomes of the 2025 Hazmat Roundtable, held in May 2025.