Ms. McGruder has been appointed as a principal member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard for Fire & Emergency Services Professional Qualifications (1020/1041). She serves as a Fellow and State Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation. She has served on several committees, manual validation projects, and written test banks for the International Fire Services Training Association (IFSTA).
Erin McGruder has served as the Instructional Program Manager for a state training agency. In this role, she developed and managed instructors, instructor professional development, IFSAC/Pro Board certification processes for NFPA 1020 (1041), and delivered coursework. She develops and administers online coursework. She has coordinated and administered conferences and fire schools within her state.
Ms. McGruder has been a volunteer firefighter/EMT-B with Boone County Fire Protection District since 2003 and a Technical Information Specialist or Planning Team Manager (PTM) with (FEMA) Missouri Task Force One since 2009. She maintained two Type I Disaster Live Find (SUSAR) certified canines as a handler with Kansas Task Force for 12 years and remains rostered as a PTM. Furthermore, she is certified as a Project Management Professional, an FAA Part 107 sUAV pilot, and holds numerous IFSAC and ProBoard certifications. She holds a Master’s of Public Affairs. Ms. McGruder is currently completing doctoral coursework in educational psychology and adult learning.
Previously, she was responsible for creating, reviewing, and updating courses as a curriculum specialist for the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute. She created and administered their online initiatives and assisted in delivering the Simulated Incident Management programs. Ms. McGruder also coordinated the annual Missouri Emergency Services Instructor Conference.
Ms. McGruder has spoken through limited engagements on the topics of canine search, sUAV operations, instructor development, and curriculum development/testing with emphasis on active learning and domain of application. She is scheduled to deliver "Real Life Training for Real Life Tactics" at FDIC in April, 2025.