ICS-402 Liaison Officer

The Liaison Officer serves as the primary point of contact between the Incident Management Team and assisting or cooperating agencies and, as a member of the Command Staff, plays a critical role in coordinating with external agencies, stakeholders, and partner organizations throughout incident operations.

EMSI Liaison Officer Job AidCourse Overview

ICS-402 prepares emergency management and response personnel for the role of Liaison Officer (LOFR on an Incident Management Team. The course builds on ICS fundamentals and focuses on the LOFR’s duties and responsibilities, including incident response and effective section management.

Who This Course Is For?

  • Personnel assigned or preparing to serve as Liaison Officer
  • Agency Representatives supporting incident operations
  • IMT members seeking deeper understanding of interagency coordination
  • Public or private sector responders working within ICS environments

Course Objectives

  • Describe the role and responsibilities of the Liaison Officer within the Command Staff.
  • Explain the duties and expectations of Agency Representatives during an incident.
  • Identify communication methods and workspace requirements for incident operations.
  • Demonstrate how the Liaison Officer engages and manages stakeholders effectively.
  • Outline the process for information flow and the role of Assistant Liaison Officers.
  • Explain the Liaison Officer’s contributions to the NIMS Incident Action Planning process.
  • Apply appropriate steps for managing special situations during an incident.
  • Describe the demobilization process and the Liaison Officer’s responsibilities in closing out operations.

Delivery Format
Activities may include instructor-led, in-person training featuring scenario-based exercises, hands-on activities, personalized coaching to ensure job-ready skills, and asynchronous activities.

Duration

Two days (13 hours) 

Pre-requisite (required)

Successful completion of ICS-300

The course material does not assume or require experience as a LOFR, but also is not a basic LOFR course. Incident experience as a Liaison Officer and/or on an Incident Management Team is also desirable.

Note: This course aligns with FEMA’s National Preparedness Course Catalog for the NIMS ICS All-Hazards Liaison Officer (0956) but is not an official FEMA course and does not confer FEMA certification.

Comparable Courses

  • FEMA E/L956
  • NWFT LIAO
  • USCG ICS-402

Next Steps

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