James Keiken

Assistant Chief
Director, Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI)

Chief Jim Keiken is the Director of the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), Vice President of the North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD), and is the Assistant Chief of the Madison (Wisconsin) Fire Department. He has worked in the fire and rescue service for over 43 years, beginning as a volunteer EMT before becoming a career firefighter/paramedic, holding most fire service positions. As IFSI Director, he has established and is moving forward a strategic vision for the organization that includes: creating quality leadership development and decision-making training and education curriculum for the fire service; enhancing and expanding practical hands-on training; expanding life safety research; expanding online educational deliveries; and growing the Institute's partnerships, reach, and reputation, both nationally and internationally.

Chief Keiken has completed the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program and was in the first class of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire Service Executive Development Institute. He has also achieved Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and Chief Training Officer (CTO) designations from the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).

Chief Keiken has an MBA in Management from Cardinal Stritch University and a BS in Fire Science Management from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.