Who has overall authority and responsibility for conducting incident operations?

The correct answer is the Incident Commander, as this role holds overall authority and responsibility for managing all incident operations during an emergency. The Incident Commander is the individual who sets the incident objectives, determines strategies, and allocates resources. This position is crucial during an emergency response, as the Incident Commander ensures the coordination of all activities across different sectors involved in the incident, thus maintaining a unified command structure.

While other roles such as the Logistics Officer, Operations Chief, and Planning Section Chief play vital parts in the incident management team, they each have specific responsibilities that support the overall mission directed by the Incident Commander. The Logistics Officer manages resources and support functions, the Operations Chief oversees tactical operations at the incident site, and the Planning Section Chief is responsible for collecting, evaluating, and disseminating operational information. However, it is the Incident Commander who retains ultimate authority and accountability for operational decisions and the effectiveness of the response activities. Therefore, in the context of incident management, the role of the Incident Commander is essential for ensuring that all efforts are focused and coordinated towards achieving the incident objectives.