As a researcher and advocate for firefighter safety, health, and training, Kate Kapalo, Ph.D. specializes in transforming complex data into actionable solutions for the fire service. Her work bridges science, technology, and practical implementation, providing firefighters and EMS professionals with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive while leveraging evidence-based guidance.
She began her career as a civilian research psychologist for the U.S. Navy, focusing on human factors and decision-making under pressure. Her postdoctoral work at Brown University and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) centered on improving the user experience of emerging technologies for first responders. Currently, she teaches in the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO), mentoring fire service leaders, and she formerly served the 2,200+ members of DC’s Bravest as part of the Health & Safety Division.
Throughout her career, Kapalo has led projects tackling scenarios that focus on incident command decision-making, occupational health, wildland/WUI, and pre-incident planning. From designing data-driven training solutions to authoring academic publications, her passion lies in finding solutions that enhance the safety, health, and effectiveness of firefighters both in our capital and nationwide.