Dr. Richard Gist is Principal Assistant to the Director of the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department. His responsibilities include strategic planning, organizational development, and serving as liaison between the Fire Department and a wide range of agencies with whom we interact in the provision of our services. He is widely recognized in emergency services venues for development and execution of innovative projects, programs, and service initiatives to enhance the impact of fire and rescue services for communities and their citizens in both daily missions and catastrophic events.

Dr. Gist is a public health educator trained in behavioral epidemiology, community education, and analysis/evaluation of service delivery systems. He has held teaching and research appointments at several colleges and universities worldwide and has been an invited lecturer in a wide range of settings here and abroad. He has provided consultation and assistance to disaster response agencies, service organizations, and major corporations in preparing for and responding to disaster and emergency. Widely known author and speaker, he has published a wide range of refereed articles, text chapters, and edited books. He has also created several innovative, award winning community partnership programs to improve the health and safety of our community.

Honors

Service Recognition Award, Community Service Award Foundation, 1981

Meritorious Service Recognition, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, 1984, 1985

Outstanding Dissertation Award, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1985-1986

Outstanding Dissertation Award, American Psychological Association Division 27 (Community Psychology), 1985-1986

Meritorious Service Recognition, Kansas City, Missouri Health Department, 1989

Foundation Service Award, American Critical Incident Stress Foundation, 1990

Mayoral Commendation for emergency rescue efforts, City of Kansas City, Missouri, 1993

Distinguished Service Award, Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department, 1995

Distinguished Service Award, South Metropolitan Fire Protection District, 1995

Special Resolution honoring service to Kansas City, Missouri; City Council Resolution No. 980760

Scientific and Professional Integrity Award, Science and Pseudoscience Special Interest Group, Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies, 2005