Richard Kesler is the Deputy Director of Research Programs at the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute. His work focuses on examining the physiological demands of firefighting activity and the impact of firefighting on the firefighter.

Richard serves on the technical committee for NFPA 1700: Guide for Structural Firefighting and is a member of the NFPA Technical Committee on Special Operations Protective Clothing and Equipment. He teaches in numerous IFSI classes and is a physical training instructor for the IFSI Basic Operations Firefighter Academy. Richard is currently pursuing his PhD in Kinesiology and serves as a volunteer Assistant Chief with the Savoy Fire Department.