FireRescue magazine would like to congratulate one of its own, Division Chief Martha Ellis of the Salt Lake City Fire Department, who is also a longstanding contributor and board member. Last month, Ellis became one of four fire service leaders chosen from close to 100 applicants to receive a fellowship to Harvard University’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program.
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) administered the competitive selection process and coordinated the final phase, which took place at the USFA’s National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Md., on April 30. “The 100 applicants were culled down to eight of us that went to Emmitsburg to compete for the four final spots,” Ellis explains. “That was intense.”
The finalists were tasked with completing a case study on consolidation of neighboring police agencies, as well as giving a 15-minute presentation on their five-year plan. “When I looked around the room at the people I was competing against, they were all people who were at the top of their game,” Ellis says. “There were no slackers in that room.”
Once the selection process was complete, U.S. Fire Administrator Ernie Mitchell voiced his approval. “USFA, along with FPP/IFSTA, IAFC and the NFPA believe that these senior fire executives will represent fire and emergency services with a high degree of professionalism,” he stated.
The 19-day program, which will begin this summer at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, facilitates discussion between governing officials and leaders from around the country on issues such as policy, relationships between citizens and government, and ethical and professional responsibilities of leadership.
Ellis looks forward to the program and hopes to make the most out of her experience. “I hope to gain some really brilliant relationships, as this is an incredible opportunity to connect with people from all over the world, really, and gain some perspective that I can’t get in any other arena,” she says. “Ultimately, my desired outcome is that I am a better public servant with a grander scope of how public safety factors into the bigger picture of politics.”
