Natural and man-made disasters have altered the public safety paradigm by contributing to an increase in firearms sales, gun-carrying by the public, and a general relaxation of the rules of engagement in which citizens may employ deadly force. These conditions have made the landscape in which police, fire, and emergency services work potentially more dangerous. In this video, Jason Lyon discusses his Master’s thesis, “Convergence, Guns, and the Public Safety Response,” which addresses how public safety agencies should evaluate and respond tactically, operationally, and strategically to the changing landscape caused by crisis events.
About the Presenter
Battalion Chief Jason Lyon is a 19-year veteran of the Billings (Montana) Fire Department. Chief Lyon is currently the program manager for the Billings Fire Department’s Regional Hazardous Materials Team and is the Montana State Hazmat Advisory Group’s secretary. Chief Lyon also collaborated with FEMA, DHS to organize a whole-community seminar focused on preparing for and responding to complex coordinated terrorist attacks for Montana emergency response organizations. He then worked with the Billings Fire Department and the Billings Police Department to implement a Rescue Task Force concept that deploys firefighters to save lives at an incident of mass violence quickly. Jason also participated in FEMA’s Over the Horizon working group on high-threat incidents. Chief Lyon holds Associate Degrees in Fire Science and Paramedicine, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, and a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School. While at the Naval Postgraduate School, he received the Curtis “Butch” Straub Award for academics and leadership as well as the Mark Carr Esprit De Corps Award.
Jason Lyon's thesis
