Katelynn Kapalo

Affiliation

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Biography

As a researcher, educator, and advocate for firefighter safety, health, and training, I specialize in transforming complex data into actionable solutions for the fire service. My work bridges science, technology, and practical implementation, equipping firefighters and EMS professionals with evidence-based tools and knowledge to thrive in high-stakes environments. I began my career as a civilian research psychologist for the U.S. Navy, focusing on human factors and decision-making under pressure. My 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. I now serve as faculty in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), where I help advance research and training that strengthen emergency care and responder resilience. In addition, I teach in the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO), mentoring fire service leaders nationwide, and I previously served the 2,200+ members of DC Fire & EMS as part of the Health & Safety Division. Throughout my career, I’ve led initiatives on incident command decision-making, occupational health, wildland/WUI response, and pre-incident planning. From designing data-driven training solutions to publishing applied research, my passion lies in building safer, smarter systems for the fire service and the communities they protect.