More from FSPA Conference in Pearland, Texas

By: Robert Avsec, Battalion Chief (Ret.) and FSPA Operations Chief

You have a pretty good idea that we had a very successful conference in Texas, October 9-10, 2025, when attendees and presenters alike are sharing their thoughts on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram–just to name a few social media platforms. Here’s one from Captain and Psychologist Jasper Brouwer–who traveled 5,017 miles from his home in the Netherlands to present at our conference! Here’s what Jasper posted on LinkedIn:

Blue Wave in Texas! Oh yeah!

Last week, I attended the Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA) Conference in Pearland, Texas: a gathering of passionate fire service psychologists, experts, and inspiring firefighters, all sharing their insights on human factors in the fire service.

And… I was honored to be one of the speakers!
I presented: Human Factors in the Dutch Fire Service: Changing the Culture to Normalize Mental Resilience, proudly showcasing how we in the Netherlands are actively integrating Human Factors into our fire service practices. The key message? Tactical Pause – or in other words: Stop and think.

My days in Pearland were filled with inspiring conversations, amazing people, waffles and Texas barbecues and powerful stories from the American fire service. I’m bringing home a wealth of knowledge and new perspectives.

Huge thanks to FSPA for the trust and the incredibly kind words. It was truly amazing to be part of this!

Save the Date & Register Early!

It’s not too early to put the dates for the 9th Annual FSPA Conference on your calendar–And register early! In 2026, the conference will hosted by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office and the conference location will be Portland, Oregon. The conference dates are October 15-16, 2026 with the Fire Service Cultural Competency Certificate Program taking place on October 14th (The day before the conference) and October 17th (The day after the conference).

For Early Registration, go to, www.firepsychology.org, and use the coupon code earlybird2026 before January 1st, 2026 for $300 off your registration!