Washington, D.C., October 24, 2001–The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has announced changes to the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program that it says will enhance the level of training to the nation’s fire services leaders. In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the USFA says, the potential for additional incidents in the future makes it necessary to be prepared for an interagency, unified command approach to planning for, operating at, and mitigating such incidents.
The current third-year elective course Executive Analysis of Fire Service Operations in Emergency Management (EAFSOEM) will now be a mandatory second year EFO course. It will replace the Strategic Management of Change course.
The Community Risk Reduction course will be mandatory in the third year of the program.
EAFSOEM curriculum covers preparing for response and managing and mitigating large-scale incidents using multi-agency resources at a strategic level. The course will facilitate preparedness for local fire services at multi-agency response incidents.
The change will be implemented December 10, 2001.The National Fire Academy Board of Visitors has endorsed the new plan.
Current second-year EFOP participants registered for the Strategic Management of Change program during FY 2002 will be transferred to an EAFSOEM offering. The change will not affect current third-year EFOP participants who have chosen EAFSOEM as their “elective-year” course.
