County Fire Officials Participating in Elite National Training Program

Lieutenant Charlie Molinari and Assistant Chief Brian Culp of the Sandoval County Fire Department recently completed the first half of a two-year course of advanced officer training at the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy.

These veteran Sandoval County firefighters were selected for The National Fire Academy’s Managing Officer Program among a field of nationwide applicants. The program is offered at the National Fire Academy Campus in Emmitsburg, MD.

The program consists of a two-year curriculum that introduces emerging emergency services leaders to personal and professional skills in change management, risk reduction and adaptive leadership. Acceptance into the program is the first step toward professional development as a career or volunteer fire/emergency medical services (EMS) manager.

Sandoval County Fire Chief James Maxon said the Managing Officer Program builds on foundational management and technical competencies, learning to address issues of interpersonal and cultural sensitivity, professional ethics, and outcome-based performance. On completion of the program, Chief Maxon said, Lieutenant Molinari Assistant Chief Brian Culp will have accomplished the following:

• Be better prepared to grow professionally, improve their skills, and meet emerging professional challenges.
• Be able to embrace professional growth and development in their career.
• Enjoy a national perspective on professional development.
• Understand and appreciate the importance of professional development.
• Have a network of fire service professionals who support career development.

They are expected to complete the program in 2016.

“We are proud to support Lieutenant Charlie Molinari and Assistant Chief Brian Culp in their efforts to better protect the citizens of Sandoval County,” Chief Maxon said. “The National Fire Academy provides unparalleled continuing education and we look forward to implementing this advanced officer training into our department activities.”

The National Fire Academy was created as a result of the landmark document America Burning and the subsequent passage of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974. It is estimated that, since 1975, more than 1,400,000 students have received training through a variety of course delivery methods. For more information, visit http://www.usfa.fema.gov/nfa.