Spotlighting our South Carolina Fire-Rescue Speakers: Lieutenant Jennifer Thackson

August 15, 2025

Over the past five weeks, we have had the pleasure of introducing many different South Carolina Fire-Rescue Speakers.  Last week, we introduced Master Firefighter Ryan Murphy from the Myrtle Beach Fire Department. Today, we are wrapping up this spotlight series by introducing Jennifer Thackson, a Lieutenant with Clemson University Fire & EMS.

At Clemson University Fire & EMS, Lieutenant Thackson oversees Community Risk Reduction and serves as the department’s Accreditation Manager. In her classes, titled “Beyond the Buzz: Practical AI for Fire & EMS”, participants learn how artificial intelligence (AI) can be woven into daily fire and EMS work.

“We began by breaking down what AI is in plain terms, discussed the pros and cons, and reinforced why human judgment still matters,” she said. “Together, we explored real examples like using AI to speed up reports, summarize after-action reviews, plan events, and create public education materials.”

With Fire-Rescue 2025 being the first she has spoken at, Lieutenant Thackson is most excited about how her classes can inspire new ideas and tactics within the fire service.

“Speaking at Fire-Rescue for the first time was a big moment for me. I was grateful for the opportunity to bring a new topic like AI into this space and see it spark new ideas across our industry,” she said.

Lieutenant Thackson hopes that students leave her classes with the eagerness to learn and explore how AI can be beneficial to their department.

“I hoped people would leave not just with practical tools they could use right away, but also with a sense of curiosity and confidence, ready to safely explore AI to brainstorm, save time, solve problems, and strengthen how they serve their communities,” she said.

We are grateful for Lieutenant Thackson’s dedication to advancing the fire service through new technology and ideas. Her forward-thinking approach regarding AI allows us all to keep learning and improving, ensuring a safer and more effective future for the fire service. We hope that she continues to share her knowledge at future Fire-Rescue Conferences!