Oklahoma State University’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology has named Richard “Kelly” Reed director of OSU Fire Service Training.

Reed brings more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning fire and emergency services, workforce development, organizational management, critical infrastructure and higher education. An active Oklahoma firefighter and chief officer, Reed has also served as an adjunct hazardous materials instructor for OSU Fire Service Training since 2022.

“Kelly brings a unique combination of real-world fire service experience, leadership and a deep understanding of workforce development,” said Dr. Ed Kirtley, associate dean of Engineering Extension. “He understands the challenges facing Oklahoma fire departments because he has experienced them firsthand. Just as importantly, he understands that every department and community is different. His commitment to building partnerships and delivering relevant and high-quality training will help Fire Service Training continue to expand its impact across the state.”

For Reed, stepping into the director role is an opportunity to continue a career centered on public service while helping strengthen fire departments and communities across Oklahoma.

“What attracted me was the mission,” Reed said. “I’ve spent most of my adult life in public safety and emergency services, and I’ve always believed that good training has an impact far beyond the person sitting in the classroom. It goes back to their department and ultimately to the community they serve.”

As director, Reed will lead FST’s efforts to provide high-quality training and professional development to firefighters and emergency responders throughout Oklahoma. His initial priorities include listening to FST employees, instructors, fire departments and partners while identifying opportunities to strengthen relationships and expand the organization’s impact.

“My first priority is to listen and learn,” Reed said. “I want to understand our people, our programs, our customers, our partnerships and our resources. At the same time, we’ll continue moving the mission forward while I learn. Building trust, strengthening relationships and understanding where we can better serve Oklahoma will be priorities from the beginning.”

Reed said one of FST’s greatest responsibilities is serving a fire service that looks very different from one community to another. Volunteer and rural departments often face different challenges than larger career departments.

“The mission may be similar, but their resources, staffing, call volume and training needs can be very different,” Reed said. “The mission belongs to the entire state.”

Reed’s long-term vision is for FST to become Oklahoma’s trusted source for fire service training, expertise, research and information while continuing to build a national reputation for its work.

Central to that vision is leveraging the resources available through OSU. Reed sees opportunities to connect firefighters and departments with university expertise in research, technology, data and education to address real-world challenges facing the fire service.

“I want us listening to Oklahoma’s firefighters and fire chiefs and asking, ‘What problems are you facing? What information do you need? Where are the gaps?’” Reed said. “Then we can look at how research, technology, education and training can help bridge those gaps and turn that knowledge into something useful in the real world.”

Partnerships will also play a significant role in that effort. Reed plans to strengthen relationships with local departments, state agencies, CareerTech, industry and other public safety and training organizations.

He compares that approach to mutual aid in the fire service — building relationships and understanding each organization’s capabilities before they are needed.

“Each of us brings something different,” Reed said. “When we understand those strengths and build relationships around them, we can create opportunities together that none of us could create as effectively alone. The partnership should make both organizations stronger, but ultimately there should be a third winner — the Oklahoma fire service.”

Reed’s professional experience includes leadership roles with Verizon’s National Emergency Response Program and the Deer Creek Fire Protection District. He has led teams and worked with local, state, federal and private-sector organizations during hurricanes, wildfires, natural disasters and other complex emergencies.

He is a nationally registered and Oklahoma-licensed paramedic, certified fire officer and fire service instructor and holds numerous additional public safety certifications. Reed is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy and the Oklahoma Army National Guard and earned a bachelor’s degree in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma.

Despite moving into a statewide leadership role, Reed plans to remain active in the Oklahoma fire service, something he believes will help keep FST connected to the realities departments face.

“As a land-grant university, our responsibility extends far beyond our campus," Kirtley said. "We have an obligation to take the knowledge and research developed here at OSU and put it to work for the people and communities we serve. Fire Service Training is an excellent example of that mission in action. By connecting the real-world needs of Oklahoma’s fire service with expertise across CEAT and OSU, we have an opportunity not only to strengthen training, but to develop innovative solutions that improve firefighter safety and ultimately the safety of communities throughout Oklahoma.”

As an Extension unit in CEAT, FST serves firefighters and emergency responders across Oklahoma by providing accessible, high-quality training, education and professional development. Working with career, volunteer, rural and metropolitan fire departments, FST delivers hands-on training and certification programs designed to strengthen firefighter readiness, leadership and safety. Through statewide partnerships and outreach, FST helps ensure Oklahoma fire departments have the knowledge, skills and resources needed to protect the communities they serve.

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