Episode 23: Scott Davonski
In Episode 23 of The Volly House Podcast, we’re joined by Chief Scott Davonski, a respected leader in the fire service and the current Executive Director of the Suffolk County Fire Academy. With more than 30 years of boots-on-the-ground experience, Chief Davonski has spent his career building strong training programs, leading complex hazardous materials responses, and shaping operational leadership across both local and federal levels.
Before his role at the Suffolk County Fire Academy, Chief Davonski served as Deputy Fire Chief at Brookhaven National Laboratory, where he was responsible for managing critical incidents at one of the nation’s most secure federal research facilities. His response history includes major incidents like Superstorm Sandy, the TWA Flight 800 crash, and multiple U.S. Open golf championship events.
This episode is packed with sharp, real-world leadership insights that firefighters of every rank can learn from.
Leading Complex Hazmat & Multi-Agency Responses
Chief Davonski has led some of the most challenging hazmat operations you can face, especially in multi-agency environments where fire departments, federal teams, law enforcement, and private contractors must quickly align under a unified command.
He breaks down:
What it takes to lead high-stakes hazmat incidents with confidence
How to stay ahead of fast-moving scenes that involve multiple disciplines and agencies
How to manage mutual aid companies and troubleshoot communication gaps on the fly
Why the ability to quickly build trust across different teams is mission-critical
His experience proves that successful incident command is as much about people management as it is about tactical expertise.
Evolving Training at the County Level
As the Executive Director of the Suffolk County Fire Academy, Chief Davonski is driving change in how firefighters are trained on Long Island.
In this episode, we explore:
How to build meaningful, department-wide training cultures that go beyond just meeting minimum standards
Why it’s critical to make training both accessible and relevant across different size departments
The need for county-level leadership to embrace modern training strategies while respecting the core values of the fire service
How to design training that works for both career and volunteer companies
Chief Davonski doesn’t believe in training for the sake of checking boxes — he’s committed to creating programs that genuinely improve operational readiness.
Commanding Large-Scale Incidents & Special Events
Chief Davonski has extensive experience managing major events with complex command structures, including Superstorm Sandy, national sporting events, and federally regulated facilities.
He shares valuable lessons on:
Coordinating large-scale responses across jurisdictions
Overcoming operational blind spots, like equipment compatibility and radio failures
Building flexible Incident Command Systems that can handle sudden changes in scope
How to maintain situational awareness and clear communication in chaotic environments
These are the hard-earned leadership lessons you can only get from someone who’s been there.
Leadership, Mentorship & Leaving the Job Better Than You Found It
Throughout the episode, Chief Davonski emphasizes the importance of consistency, mentorship, and humility in leadership. He speaks openly about:
The responsibility senior members have to mentor new firefighters
Why strong leadership is about showing up the same way every day — steady, reliable, and fair
The long-term impact of building departments where training and growth are part of the culture, not the exception
His leadership style is no-nonsense, but always focused on bringing people up and building teams that are ready for anything.
Top Takeaways from Chief Scott Davonski
🔥 Hazmat leadership is about clear decisions, steady communication, and trust
🔥 Strong training cultures don’t happen by accident — they require buy-in at all levels
🔥 Mutual aid success starts with relationship-building and real-world joint training
🔥 True leaders invest in mentorship and department-wide consistency
🔥 Operational readiness is a daily habit, not a checkbox
🎧 Listen to Episode 23 now on all major platforms
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Thank You to Our Sponsors
🛠 iCommandBoard – Next-level incident command tools
📊 Alpine Software – Firehouse management made smarter
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