Which of the following is not part of the command staff within the incident command system structure?

• A. Liaison officer
• B. Safety officer
• C. Planning chief
• D. Public information officer

Answer: (C)

The key idea is who makes up the command staff in the incident command system. The command staff are the roles that report directly to the Incident Commander and handle functions that support, coordinate, and communicate about the incident: a liaison officer to coordinate with other agencies, a safety officer to oversee on-scene safety, and a public information officer to communicate with the public and the media. The Planning Section Chief, however, belongs to the General Staff—the Planning Section—where the focus is on developing the incident action plan, tracking resources, and maintaining situation status. Because of this organizational placement, the Planning Chief is not part of the command staff.