Donovan Heads National Academy, Stresses Need for Outreach Programs
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Editor
Joseph L. Donovan, who was head of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, became superintendent of the National Fire Academy Jan. 25. He took the oath of office from Fred J. Villella, Federal Emergency Management Agency associate director of training and education, in a ceremony at the academy in Emmitsburg, Md., attended by the entire faculty and student body.
In an interview after the ceremony, Donovan expressed his support of the academy’s outreach program, which provides courses in every state, and declared, “The need is there—no two ways about it.”
One of his first tasks as superintendent, he said, will be to look at the academy’s resident programs and determine how to divide them into segments for presentation in the field as part of the outreach program. The academy’s goal, he said, is to supplement the training and education being done in the states.
“A lot of people don’t have time to come here. We’ve got to reach them somehow,” Donovan commented.
To evaluate activities
The new superintendent indicated that it would take him a couple of months to get his feet on the ground and evaluate everything the academy is doing. He explained that since he learned he was being considered as the new superintendent some months ago, “I have on purpose stayed completely out of the wavelengths of this academy.” He remarked that as a state training director, he had definite opinions, and he felt that his experience as a state director would be beneficial in his work as superintendent.
Donovan thinks that the “academy has functioned very well” and he said that what has been done in two short years at Emmitsburg is “amazing.”
One of his major objectives, Donovan stated, is to lead the fire service into the 21st century by incorporating computer and other advanced technologies into the daily life of the fire service.
Villella mentioned that the academy is going to employ a person with a science and computer technology background to advance the state of the art of using computers to greater advantage in the fire service. The FEMA associate director explained that it is presently possible to arrange for the transfer of students’ records computer softwear to the states. He envisioned the academy offering a computer program to advance the state of the art in the fire service.
Cable TV opportunities
Another area in which Donovan sees a great opportunity for the fire service is cable TV.
“It’s unbelievable what the fire service can get out of it,” Donovan remarked.
staff photos.
Noting that he had done a little work on the interaction of the fire service with cable TV, Donovan indicated that it was an opportune time for fire departments to get into this new media while it was in its early growth stage. As franchises are granted to cable TV operators, the opportunity for the fire service to get commitments for participation exists. Later on may be too late.
At a time when the future of the United States Fire Administration is in danger of being only a matter of months, what are the budget prospects for the National Fire Academy?
Villella fielded this question and stated, “I see no diminution whatsoever” in the academy budget.
Seek more value
Both Villella and Donovan indicated their intent to provide more value for each dollar spent at the academy. As an example, Villella cited the academy’s outreach program, which he felt had about doubled.
Donovan headed the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy as chief of training for four years and was associated with the academy for two years previously. Attendance at the academy nearly doubled while he headed it. He started annual command and staff seminars for officers and developed a hazardous materials program.
At the time of his appointment, Donovan was a lieutenant in the Hopkinton, Mass., Fire Department. □ □
