Fire Department of New York Battalion Chief (Ret.) John J. Salka Jr. received the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award at the Opening Ceremony Day 2 on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at FDIC International in Indianapolis.
Accompanied on stage by Eileen Brennan Cress, daughter of Chief Tom Brennan, after whom the award is named, FDIC Education Director Bobby Halton presented the prestigious award, saying, “I have had the pleasure of knowing John for nearly 30 years, and whether we were speaking with the governor of New Mexico or a class of young company officers or around the kitchen table in my home, John Salka was always the same man.
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“John has provided his wisdom and knowledge in the classroom; in numerous books and in countless articles; and, most importantly, in the real world. John has fought fire and saved lives among the finest firefighters in one of the most iconic fire departments in America.
“Among the legends of that department, John stands tall. If we were to have a gathering of those legendary FDNY firefighters, John would be seated at the head table, much to his chagrin and embarrassment.
“John is legendary for his honesty, for his commitment and passion, for his willingness to stand in the breach, for his unwavering commitment to his family, his department, his community, and his friends. But I am not alone in my regard for Chief Salka. We received literally dozens of notes about John and how much he has meant to so many firefighters around the country. Here are a few of those comments.
“From FDNY Deputy Chief (Ret.) Vincent Dunn: John Salka is the last of the incident commanders from the FDNY war years on the lecture circuit. As a battalion chief with years of experience, John teaches about the subject of fireground command and control that company officers have never experienced and do not know about.
“From Chief (Ret.) Rick Lasky, Lewisville (TX) Fire Department: John, where do I begin? On the professional side, your love for the fire service is second to none and is defined on so many fronts. From the classes that you teach, the hands-on training that you have provided, to the mentoring you have done for so many, including me, I have no doubt whatsoever that there are countless firefighters alive today due to the fact that they were trained by Chief John Salka. Your love for the job is incredible and there are very few who can run a fire scene like you do. On a personal side, you are all about family. You and Dawn have raised five incredible children and are true examples of how parents should be. You have been my mentor, my best friend, and most importantly my brother, and I am truly blessed for it all.
“From FDNY Deputy Chief John A. (Jay) Jonas: I have worked with John and have been his friend since we went to the FDNY Probie School together in 1979. He has always strived to be better at his craft. What makes John unique is that he also wants to make all those around him better at being firefighters. He is more than willing to sit down with anyone to make them better at what they do.
“From FDNY Lieutenant Michael N. Ciampo: Chief Salka has always been a forward-thinking officer and instructor. He developed the Get Out Alive program years ago and it has saved numerous firefighters’ lives. In addition, his writings over the years have shaped and mentored numerous firefighters throughout their careers.
“From FDNY Lieutenant (Ret.) Chris Delisio: Chief Salka is the father of firefighter survival. He planted a seed on this topic more than 25 years ago and look how it has grown. He brought forth a cultural change to the fire service for the betterment of the fire service.
“From FDNY Captain (Ret.) Michael M. Dugan: John Salka is a dear friend but also a mentor. John is willing to give of himself to make you and the fire service better. His teaching has had an enormous impact on the fire service and we are better because of his contributions.
“From Deputy Chief (Ret.) Steve Chikerotis, Chicago (IL) Fire Department and Executive Consulting Producer on the TV show “Chicago Fire”: I have always admired John as one of the greatest leaders and educators in today’s fire service. He has saved countless lives through his actions, his leadership, and the lessons he has shared. John is also an actor …. A few years ago, we were honored to have John do a cameo role on Chicago Fire, where he played FDNY Battalion Chief John Salka.”
A 45-plus-year veteran of the fire service, Salka served with the FDNY for more than 33 years, the last 15 years as a battalion chief and battalion commander in the 18th Battalion in the Bronx. Prior to the 18th Battalion, he served in several of the FDNY’s busiest and most active units, serving as a firefighter in Ladder 11 and Rescue 3, a lieutenant in Squad 1 in Brooklyn, and captain of Engine 48 in the Bronx. He has instructed at the Probationary Firefighters School, the Captains Management Program, and the Battalion Chiefs Command Course.
Salka was decorated for bravery several times and served as part of the Incident Command Team at the World Trade Center on 9/11 and the weeks and months that followed. He has been lecturing and presenting training seminars throughout the United States and Canada for more than 30 years and was awarded Fire Engineering’s Training Achievement Award at FDIC in 2001.
He is the author of the best-selling books First In-Last Out: Leadership Lessons from the New York Fire Department, The Engine Company, and Five Alarm Leadership: From the Firehouse to the Fireground. He is the co-host for the podcasts “The Command Post” and “Old School” heard on iTunes. He is also volunteer chief of the South Blooming Grove Fire District in Orange County, New York.
