Writing

This page collects Jonathan Boyd’s long form writing on public safety, leadership, technology, time, and community. Most of these pieces were originally published on LinkedIn and are archived here as a durable, searchable record.

• New fMRI Study Reveals Drop in Prefrontal Activity Following Stress
  October 21, 2025 I know many of you have experienced the same thing. We roll up on a member of the public who has just gone through a stressful event like a car wreck, and they struggle to answer simple questions. They may stand there, unable to decide if they should stay in the carContinue reading “New fMRI Study Reveals Drop in Prefrontal Activity Following Stress”
• Iit Ai Conference Summary
  September 29, 2025 On Saturday, September 27, 2025, I attended the IIT Alumni Association of North Texas (IITNT) Conference in Frisco. The conference, called L.E.T.S. Talk, is an annual gathering of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) alumni to network and discuss developments in technology. You may be wondering why I was there. Last year IContinue reading “Iit Ai Conference Summary”
• Responding in Time: Part 6 – The Individual
  September 3, 2025 In Part 1, I talked about how time is our enemy and it is important to know the enemy. Time is not the clock. It is the progression of entropy. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/responding-time-part-1-jonathan-boyd-mqurc In Part 2, I looked at the idea that “now” is not a defined point. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/responding-time-part-2-when-now-jonathan-boyd-otgic Part 3 is about “entropyContinue reading “Responding in Time: Part 6 – The Individual”
• Responding in Time: Part 5 – Distributed Mitigation Systems
  August 19, 2025 In Part 1, I talked about how time is our enemy and it is important to know the enemy. Time is not the clock. It is the progression of entropy. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/responding-time-part-1-jonathan-boyd-mqurc In Part 2, I looked at the idea that “now” is not a defined point. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/responding-time-part-2-when-now-jonathan-boyd-otgic Part 3 is about “entropyContinue reading “Responding in Time: Part 5 – Distributed Mitigation Systems”
• Responding in Time: Part 4 – Distributed Mitigation
  August 12, 2025 Thank you for making it this far! Here are some links to the previous articles: In Part 1, I talked about how time is our enemy and it is important to know the enemy. Time is not the clock. It is the progression of entropy. From order to disorder. The steps towardContinue reading “Responding in Time: Part 4 – Distributed Mitigation”
• Responding in Time: Part 3 – Entropy Sprawl
  August 5, 2025 If you made it this far, thank you for taking the time to listen to my thoughts on time and how it affects our ability to manage emergencies. In Part 1, I talked about how time is our enemy and it is important to know the enemy. Time is not the clock.Continue reading “Responding in Time: Part 3 – Entropy Sprawl”
• Responding in Time: Part 2 – When is Now?
  July 28, 2025 This is a follow-up to Part 1 of the series, “What is Time?” As a reminder, in Part 1 I tried to dive into figuring out what exactly we mean by “time.” If time is the foe we battle against at emergency incidents, then it seems fairly important that we understand it.Continue reading “Responding in Time: Part 2 – When is Now?”
• Responding in Time: Part 1 – What is time?
  July 21, 2025 The concept of time as it relates to emergency incidents has always fascinated me. The idea that microsecond differences, or slight shifts in the order of events can prevent or cause a tragedy. Quick response and early intervention can resolve an emergency before it spirals out of control. Meanwhile, the aftereffects ofContinue reading “Responding in Time: Part 1 – What is time?”
• Largest Graduating Class in Texas
  The largest graduating class in the state of Texas, 1,700 students, plus approximately 18,000 attendees came together at Eagle Stadium for Allen High School’s graduation ceremony. Keeping everyone safe in such a large gathering requires reliable communication, a critical factor for both first responders and the public.Play If you follow high school football, you’re likelyContinue reading “Largest Graduating Class in Texas”
• The Human Challenge Behind Storm Warnings
  May 22, 2025 Just finished reading the news out of St. Louis regarding the storm sirens. Here’s an article if you’d like to catch up: I’m sure all the details will come out over time, and I definitely do not want to cast stones, because I know how difficult these decisions are and how proneContinue reading “The Human Challenge Behind Storm Warnings”
• Update on National Fire Academy Closure
  May 12, 2025 There have been recent developments regarding the resumption of classes at the National Fire Academy (NFA). There’s good news and bad news. I’ll start with the bad news. I don’t have insider information, so this is speculation based on available reports, but the cancellation of classes appears tied to the freezing ofContinue reading “Update on National Fire Academy Closure”
• Modeling and Simulation Conference Canceled: Why does it matter?
  March 21, 2025 I remember when I went to my my first Interservice / Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) organized by the NATIONAL TRAINING & SIMULATION ASSOCIATION (NTSA) back in 2021. If you are not aware this group is largely focused on Department of Defense (DOD) simulation training. My first impression was thatContinue reading “Modeling and Simulation Conference Canceled: Why does it matter?”
• In Defense of the National Fire Academy
  The photo above was taken at our Executive Fire Officer (EFO) graduation in the historic chapel at the USFA, National Fire Academy. The four of us met on our first trip to the NFA and attended all four sessions together, forming a bond that has been invaluable throughout our careers. We have shared ideas, givenContinue reading “In Defense of the National Fire Academy”
• Simulation, AI, and National Defense: What I learned from the NTSA Congressional Modeling and Simulation Conference.
  February 25, 2025 I recently attended the NATIONAL TRAINING & SIMULATION ASSOCIATION Congressional Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Caucus Conference. The event helps shape legislative priorities for the coming year as they relate to modeling and simulation. While the focus is largely on the Department of Defense (DOD), many of the training concepts discussed connect wellContinue reading “Simulation, AI, and National Defense: What I learned from the NTSA Congressional Modeling and Simulation Conference.”
• Edge Computing and Agentic AI: Moving Decision-Making Closer to the Incident
  February 17, 2025 This article continues my earlier exploration of Agentic AI. If you missed that piece, you can check it out here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/agentic-ai-ooda-loop-how-could-support-fire-service-jonathan-boyd-gjihc/?trackingId=E7w9jbrbCUILYiqKz3laug%3D%3D Time remains an unyielding adversary. In our operations, every fleeting second counts. Shifting mitigating actions closer to the incident’s onset has the potential to change outcomes drastically. Agentic AI holds promiseContinue reading “Edge Computing and Agentic AI: Moving Decision-Making Closer to the Incident”
• Agentic AI and the OODA Loop: How Agentic AI Could Support Fire Service Decision-Making
  February 6, 2025 I recently upgraded my phone to the new iPhone 16, and it comes with what Apple calls “Apple Intelligence.” This upgrade sent me down a AI rabbit hole and made me curious about how this type of technology might shape or re-shape the way we operate in the fire service. You mayContinue reading “Agentic AI and the OODA Loop: How Agentic AI Could Support Fire Service Decision-Making”
• Aging, Task-Switching, and Incident Command: Insights from a UTD Brain Science Study
  January 27, 2025 If you have a teenager, you know how rare it is for them to want to spend time with you. So when my 17-year-old son asked me to play Fortnite with him, I jumped at the chance. I thought that with all the hours I’d logged in my youth playing GoldenEye, I’dContinue reading “Aging, Task-Switching, and Incident Command: Insights from a UTD Brain Science Study”
• Satellite to Cell: The New Era of Staying Connected
  January 19, 2025 My family and I often drive from Dallas to South Park, Colorado. It’s a trip we’ve made many times, and while it’s easy enough in the summer, winter is a different story. You have to stay on top of the weather and road conditions, or you can end up in a toughContinue reading “Satellite to Cell: The New Era of Staying Connected”
• Auto Dispatch: Saving Time Where It Counts
  January 13, 2025 Auto dispatch is one of those things that sounds obvious once you see it in action, but I’m not sure how many CAD vendors even offer it or how many agencies are taking full advantage of it. Spoiler alert: they should. It’s a perfect example of how technology can save time—not justContinue reading “Auto Dispatch: Saving Time Where It Counts”
• Seeing Through the Smoke: Mental Health in the Fire Service
  The short film Smoke was an incredible project to be a part of. Back in 2020, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Prelude Films on this idea. Josh Gallas, the director, approached me with the concept, inspired by his wife, a nurse working in a COVID unit. Josh shared how she would come homeContinue reading “Seeing Through the Smoke: Mental Health in the Fire Service”
• Artificial Intelligence: What it Means for the Fire Service
  November 4, 2024 I hope this article finds you well! Artificial intelligence (AI) is here, and its impact is felt across nearly every part of our lives. You may even recognize the growing presence of AI in the familiar phrase “I hope this email finds you well!”, a staple opening for AI-driven emails and messages,Continue reading “Artificial Intelligence: What it Means for the Fire Service”
• How the Fire Service Can Learn from Military Simulation Training
  October 29, 2024 The military is working hard to help warfighters respond more quickly and effectively to new challenges. There are some real lessons the fire service can take from their efforts. In my article, Time Keeps on Ticking, I explore how moving faster through the OODA loop (observe, orient, decide, act) is critical inContinue reading “How the Fire Service Can Learn from Military Simulation Training”
• Time Keeps on Ticking: Our Battle Against Time
  October 1, 2024 Time is an unforgiving opponent. In emergency services, it’s the relentless adversary we’re always racing against. When disaster strikes, every second matters. Yet, how often do we truly grasp the weight of each passing moment? In my previous article, “40-Second Decisions: Applying Boyd’s Air Combat Tactics,” I explored how John Boyd’s OODAContinue reading “Time Keeps on Ticking: Our Battle Against Time”
• T-Mobile’s T-Priority: What It Means for the Fire Service
  Originally published on LinkedIn September 19, 2024 T-Mobile recently announced T-Priority during their Capital Market Day, which introduces reserved network capacity for first responders using cutting-edge “network slicing” technology. Some of the key highlights from the announcement include: The potential here is promising because, as bandwidth demands for emergency response agencies continue to grow, theContinue reading “T-Mobile’s T-Priority: What It Means for the Fire Service”
• 40-Second Decisions: Applying Boyd’s Air Combat Tactics to Incident Management
  40-Second Decisions: Applying Boyd’s Air Combat Tactics to Incident Management Originally Published on LinkedIn September 17, 2024 In 1952, during the Korean War, the United States was trying hard to establish air dominance, but things weren’t going as planned. The enemy had introduced the Soviet-built MiG-15, which outperformed the American F-86 Sabre in several keyContinue reading “40-Second Decisions: Applying Boyd’s Air Combat Tactics to Incident Management”
• Jeff We Will Not Forget You!
  Originally published in LinkedIn September 11, 2024 A couple of years ago, my family and I went to New York during Christmas break. I wanted my kids to see the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. I’ve been there a few times, and each visit teaches me something new about the service and sacrifice of that day.Continue reading “Jeff We Will Not Forget You!”
• Ride-Share to the Rescue: How Uber, Lyft, and Personal Networks Helped with Reunification
  Originally published on LinkedIn September 10, 2024 During the Allen Premium Outlets shooting, the Assistant Chief of Operations made a quick decision to use ride-share services like Uber and Lyft, along with personal networks of family and friends, to evacuate people quickly. “We literally started walking through the crowd telling everyone to call family orContinue reading “Ride-Share to the Rescue: How Uber, Lyft, and Personal Networks Helped with Reunification”