Full Name
Joseph LaCognata PhD
Job Title
Chaplain
Organization
Fire Rescue Support
Speaker Bio
Joe LaCognata is the Founder and President of Fire Rescue Support, Inc. Joe started his involvement with emergency services in 1986 as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. Since becoming a pastor in 1994, his connection with emergency services has been through the chaplaincy with both police and fire departments. Joe currently serves as Chaplain with Marion County Fire Rescue, Ocala Fire Rescue, The Villages Department of Public Safety and the Florida State Fire College all located in north central Florida. Joe is also the Statewide Chaplaincy Coordinator with the Florida Firefighter Health and Safety Collaborative.

Joe has completed Basic Chaplain training through the International Fellowship of Chaplains. He is an Approved Instructor in Individual and Group Crisis Intervention with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and has his Certification in Critical Incident Stress Management from the University of Maryland Baltimore County Department of Emergency Health Services. Joe is an Endorsed Chaplain with the North American Mission Board and a Master Fire Chaplain with the Federation of Fire Chaplains. Joe holds a PhD in Educational Leadership from Illinois State University and is an Instructor III with the Florida Fire Service.

Joe has been married to Kim since 1985 and they are the proud parents of five amazing children and four wonderful sons-in-law.
Joseph LaCognata