Which of the following is a Command Staff role in ICS?

• A. Safety Officer
• B. Public Information Officer
• C. Operations Section Chief
• D. Finance/Administration Chief

Answer: (B)

In ICS the Command Staff are the Incident Commander’s advisers for areas that cross the whole incident and require cross-agency coordination: public information, safety, and liaison. The Public Information Officer fits this role because they manage all communications with the public and the media, coordinate incident information, and ensure a consistent, accurate message. They report directly to the Incident Commander, which is what makes this position a Command Staff role.

The other options point to parts of the General Staff or other functions: the Operations Section Chief leads the tactical work within the Operations Section, and the Finance/Administration Chief oversees the Finance/Administration Section. (Note: Safety Officer is also a Command Staff member in standard ICS, but among the listed items, the Public Information Officer is the clearest example of a Command Staff role.)