After-Action Reviews and Special Event Planning

Want to learn how to keep communities safe during special events? On this episode of Two Vollies and a Guest, hosts Jerry Knapp and Tim Pillsworth speak with Fire Department of New York Captain (Ret.) Christopher Flatley about planning, executing, and evaluating special events. They focus on the importance of after-action reviews (AARs) and improvement plans: conducting hotwashes, drafting actionable AARs, assigning owners with deadlines, and using the issue‑discussion‑recommendation format. Flatley walks through special event planning and execution—Times Square New Year’s Eve, local Fourth of July fireworks, hospital bio‑containment exercises—and stresses data‑driven threat assessments, incident action plans based on the Incident Command System, tabletop exercises, operational security, and resource mitigation for heat, medical surge, and perimeter blocking. They detail how to turn lessons into real improvements, avoid public exposure of sensitive plans, and build resilient volunteer response teams.