Eddie Cox
Chief Eddie Cox is a Battalion Chief of Training with more than three decades of experience in the fire service. His career began in 1990 as a junior firefighter after responding to a call with his father, a moment that set the course for a lifetime of service. He went on to serve as a full-time paramedic from 1996 to 2005 and has been a career firefighter since 2005, with experience spanning both volunteer and career departments.
In 2024, Chief Cox earned his Bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration with a concentration in Fire Investigations from Columbia Southern University. He brings a deep operational and instructional background, holding certifications including Fire Instructor III, Fire Officer III, pumps, aerials, emergency vehicle driving, mobile water supply, HazMat Level I, and extensive technical rescue specialties covering rope, vehicle, trench, confined space, swiftwater, wilderness, and agricultural rescue.
Chief Cox is passionate about servant leadership, mentorship, and building firefighters through training that is relevant, honest, and rooted in real-world experience. One of his core leadership beliefs is that effort is not one size fits all, and effective leaders know when to push, when to support, and when someone is already giving everything they have.
Outside the fire service, he is a husband of 31 years to his wife Aprillee, a father to Faith and Katie, and a proud grandfather. He values time with family, working with his hands, and maintaining balance through hobbies that keep him grounded. Guided by the mentorship of Thomas Earl Powell, Captain (Ret.), Chief Cox remains driven by the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the fire service and the people who serve it.
Heather Miller
Heather M. Miller is the Founder and President of Pennsylvania Next Response, a nonprofit organization that helps families recover from emergencies, disasters, and personal hardships across several counties in central Pennsylvania. Through the organization, she and her team provide practical support to individuals and families rebuilding their lives after significant loss.
In addition to leading Pennsylvania Next Response, Heather serves as President of the Gallitzin Fire Company and its Relief Association. She is a certified Firefighter I, CPR Instructor, and System Deployment Specialist, and holds a Master’s Degree in Information Technology with a specialization in Security and Quality Assurance.
Heather entered the fire service through the encouragement of her daughters and friends, later discovering that her late grandfather had once served as Fire Chief at the same department where she began her volunteer career. Driven by a passion for helping others through difficult times, Heather is committed to serving her community with compassion, integrity, and strong leadership.
Jason Goggans
Jason Goggans is a senior executive director within the Chick-fil-A restaurant organization and the founder of Black Wolf Leadership and Business Coaching. With more than 25 years of experience as a business owner and leader, Jason has built, operated, and grown multiple businesses while developing high-performing teams and strong organizational cultures.
Much of Jason’s entrepreneurial career was spent owning and operating gyms, where he learned firsthand that sustainable success is built on leadership, accountability, and clear standards. Over the past eight years, he has focused on coaching leaders and organizations, helping them improve performance, strengthen culture, and achieve meaningful growth.
Originally brought on as a leadership and business coach for a Chick-fil-A operator, Jason’s impact led to an expanded role as Senior Executive Director and Business Strategist, helping guide the organization toward ambitious strategic goals.
A passionate student of leadership, Jason believes personal leadership and organizational leadership are inseparable. His coaching philosophy emphasizes accountability, continuous learning, difficult conversations, and the development of leaders who are willing to raise standards rather than lower expectations.
When he is not coaching or leading teams, Jason enjoys spending time with his wife of 24 years and their four children, reading, following football, and continuing his lifelong study of leadership and personal growth.
Sheradin Rhine
Sheridan Rhine is a firefighter paramedic with CCFD and an FP-C certified critical care provider with 12 years of experience in emergency services. Beginning his career as a volunteer firefighter, he has served in a variety of roles across Texas, including critical care medic, fire captain, instructor, and interim fire chief of a volunteer department.
Passionate about leadership, mentorship, and first responder mental health, Sheridan is committed to developing the next generation of firefighters and leaving the fire service better than he found it. His leadership philosophy centers on integrity, accountability, leading by example, and having the courage to make difficult decisions when the mission and standards demand it.
Outside the fire service, Sheridan enjoys hunting, fishing, gaming, and teaching. He credits faith, humor, and the strength of the brotherhood for helping him navigate the challenges that come with the profession.
Ryan Harris
Ryan Harris is the CEO and Founder of Fireground Analytics and a career Fire Captain with the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service. A graduate of Rutgers University, Ryan brings nearly two decades of frontline fire service experience together with a passion for data-driven decision making, firefighter development, and organizational improvement.
Throughout his career, Ryan has been heavily involved in officer development, mentorship, and recruit training, helping shape the next generation of fire service leaders. His work extends beyond the fireground through initiatives such as Fire Rescue Survey, Project Mayday, The Educated Firefighter, and Fireground Analytics, all focused on improving firefighter safety, operational effectiveness, and the future of the profession.
When he is not serving his community or advancing the fire service, Ryan enjoys rebuilding his 1969 GTO, riding motorcycles, and spending time with his wife and two young children.
On this episode of The Passionate Leader Podcast, Ryan shares his perspective on leadership, fireground decision-making, mentorship, and the changes shaping today’s fire service.