Who should lead the incident debriefing?

Leading the incident debriefing is best handled by a qualified individual who has the necessary expertise and training to facilitate the discussion effectively. This person is generally familiar with the incident management process and can guide participants in reflecting on the incident to identify what went well, what challenges were encountered, and how improvements can be made for future incidents.

A qualified leader can ensure that the debriefing is structured and focused, which is vital for gathering actionable insights. This structure helps maintain the objective of the debriefing process, encouraging honest and constructive feedback while also keeping the discussion productive.

While the Incident Commander plays a crucial role during an incident and may participate in the debriefing, they may not always be the most impartial facilitator, especially if they were involved in several critical decisions during the event. Similarly, having a team of Incident Command Staff members lead the session could lead to conflicting perspectives rather than a cohesive discussion. Allowing all personnel to lead the debriefing could result in chaos and lack of focus, potentially obscuring important lessons and insights needed for organizational improvement.