Chief Dennis Compton is a well-known speaker and the author of several books including the When in Doubt, Lead three-part series and Mental Aspects of Performance for Firefighters and Fire Officers, as well as many articles for various publications. He is also the Co-Editor of the current edition of the ICMA's textbook titled, Managing Fire and Rescue Services. He is a respected advisor to the fire service and homeland security organizations.

Dennis was the Fire Chief in Mesa, Arizona for five years and Assistant Fire Chief in Phoenix, Arizona, where he served for twenty-seven years. Chief Compton has served as Chair of the Executive Board of the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Institute's National Advisory Committee, is Vice Chair of the Home Safety Council Board of Directors, a member of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Board of Directors, and serves on the George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute Steering Committee.

Chief Compton was selected as the 1991 George D. Post National Fire Service Instructor of the Year and the American Fire Sprinkler Association's Fire Service Person of the Year in 2000. Dennis was also named the 2001 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by the University of Phoenix and received the 2003 Mason Lankford National Fire Service Leadership Award. He is a charter member of the Arizona Fire Service Hall of Fame.