Company Officers and the NFA’s EFO Program

As I sit in the Baltimore Airport awaiting a flight back to Ontario, Calif., after spending two weeks at the National Fire Academy (NFA) for the first of four Executive Fire Officer (EFO) classes, I begin to reflect on my first experience at the NFA. I must say, I had no idea what to expect when I got there–but I didn’t have high hopes after my plane arrived late and I missed the bus headed to the academy.

Fortunately, the NFA made alternative arrangements to have me picked up, so at 2230 HRS I finally arrived at the academy. As I began checking in, all I could think about was how hungry I was and the fact that the cafeteria had closed an hour ago. I was about to head to my room with a grumbling belly when the staff told me that they had a box dinner and drink waiting for me in the cooler–and my outlook changed completely. When I thought of how many people were checking in that day from all over the country, and then thought about the fact that the NFA staff was considerate enough to set something aside for me, I realized just what kind of organization I was dealing with. It was a big deal to me.

My Two-Week Journey
As the week went on, I met people from all over the country; we shared ideas, stories and karaoke with our fearless leader, Howard, who’s been instructing at the NFA for several years and has a unique teaching style. We got to know one another and formed some friendships that will undoubtedly continue to grow over the next four years. In addition to the friendships, we also discovered that there was an incredible amount of talent within our class, which, I would imagine, is a common occurrence within the walls of the NFA.

On the last day, we went around the room and reflected on our two-week journey through the class that we had just completed. Everyone had kind words for their fellow classmates, the instructors and faculty; one of our classmates brought up how impressed he was with the fact that there was a wide range of ranks and department sizes represented, and that everyone dropped their egos and worked as equals.

When I applied for the EFO program, I was under the impression that it was geared toward chief officers, but I learned after the first day of class that there were a few company officers (COs) present as well. I also had an opportunity to speak with Chuck Burkell, the Executive Education Programs manager who’s been with the EFO program since its inception in 1985. Mr. Burkell sat with me one morning and graciously answered some questions specifically related to the inclusion of COs in the EFO program.

COs & the EFO
The NFA began to allow COs to apply for the EFO program in 1990, and they still encourage COs to apply today; however, historically speaking, the NFA is not a preparatory institution, which means they’re not in the business of preparing personnel for promotional opportunities. Rather, the NFA is an institution focused on developing personnel in their current positions so that they can better their organizations and the American fire service overall.

The NFA began to realize the value of allowing COs to participate in the EFO program after learning that several fire agencies entrust these officers with a tremendous amount of responsibility and that they have a great level of influence within their organizations. The NFA deduced that COs who go through the EFO program would undoubtedly be better prepared for future promotional opportunities, but more importantly, the program would provide them with specific tools to help facilitate their leadership within their organizations, which would allow them to become an even more important resource.

An Invaluable Skill
As a student goes through the EFO program, they learn the invaluable skill of applied research. We’re living in a time, and under certain circumstances, that the fire service has never been exposed to before. Simply sticking out our hands to politicians and asking for money or support because we’re the fire department doesn’t work anymore. We need real, meaningful data and research to prove our worth and justify our existence in today’s world. Learning how to obtain and present applied research will help us meet these needs and make us more competitive in this new environment.

The EFO program provides instruction on applied research and requires that each student complete an applied research paper every year during the four-year program. These papers are specific to the student’s department and must be based around an adaptable problem that their department faces. This work is done at the graduate level, and much of it has influenced change within many organizations; several papers have made a difference within the fire service on a national level.

Learning how to complete high-level adaptive research is almost a must in today’s fire service. Budgets are tight, city officials are looking for places to cut spending, we’re always being told to “do more with less,” etc., so allowing a CO to learn these skills will not only educate them on how to produce non-biased research, their knowledge may also help departments stay afloat.

A Journey Worth Taking
The NFA is an amazing institution, and the EFO program provides a tremendous opportunity to develop skills that can make a big difference in your department. Although the idea of completing an applied research paper four times doesn’t exactly sound like fun to most of us, what’s more important to remember is that both the NFA and the EFO program allow you to meet some incredible people–people you might otherwise never meet. You’ll undoubtedly make some great contacts through networking, and if you’re lucky enough, you may even make some lifelong friends. Overall, the experience will leave you changed for the better, and ready to be the top-quality officer every department needs.