How should an Incident Commander handle inquiries from a CEO during a major incident response?

The appropriate approach for an Incident Commander when handling inquiries from a CEO during a major incident response is to ensure that the focus remains on resolving the incident effectively and efficiently. Informing the CEO that the incident takes priority and that questions will be addressed later allows the Incident Commander to maintain control over the situation without getting sidetracked by inquiries that could divert attention and resources away from resolving the incident.

This strategy is crucial in high-pressure scenarios where rapid decision-making and clear communication are essential for effective incident management. Allowing distractions, even from high-level executives, could impede the response efforts, prolong the incident's resolution time, and potentially impact the overall organization.

Inquiries from executives should definitely be acknowledged, but the priority must always be on managing the incident to ensure that the organization can return to normal operations as quickly as possible. By setting this clear boundary, the Incident Commander preserves the integrity of the incident command process while still keeping stakeholders informed later when appropriate.