Harvard Fire Executive Fellowship Program
The Harvard Fire Executive Fellowship is sponsored through a partnership between the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the United States Fire Administration. Each organization equally funds the tuition costs of selected applicants to attend the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University.
The Program
Download Harvard Fire Executive Fellowship Program BrochureThis three-week program provides training that helps officials assess the tasks they face in managing today's results-driven government agencies. In particular, the program provides an opportunity for them to:
- Develop new conceptual frameworks for addressing policy issues
- Explore the relationship between citizens and government
- Examine the ethical and professional responsibilities of leadership
- Exchange ideas with experienced faculty and participants from diverse backgrounds
The program has been designed to challenge assumptions and broaden perspectives. Participants will be actively engaged in both the classroom and in small discussion groups. During the course of this work, participants learn strategies for establishing meaningful, attainable organizational objectives. They'll investigate the process of developing and evaluating policy alternatives and consider options for organizing and deploying resources, information, and services.
The Curriculum
The academic curriculum is centered around the case method pioneered at Harvard. Because the case method focuses on actual problems, it provides a powerful, stimulating educational experience. Each day, participants prepare and discuss cases selected to provoke insight into a wide range of leadership issues. This process elicits intense intellectual inquiry and spurs the development of new management ideas and techniques.
Areas to be explored are:
Strategy and Political Management: What are the most effective strategies for working with staff, peers, and supervisors? How does one influence and manage external entities such as elected and appointed officials and citizen groups?
Public Value and Policy Analysis: What are the philosophical underpinnings of decision making and creating public value? How might one best utilize tools such as analytic methods, statistics, and program evaluation?
Internal Capacity: How can one inspire effective, efficient public service? What are the options for developing organizational and communications strategies, improving productivity, and providing leadership using formal and informal authority?
Harvard Fellowship Criteria
- Application is open to senior fire executives who have demonstrated significant career accomplishments and have the potential to impact and initiate change. Attainment of a senior position is less important than demonstrated experience in facilitating significant change within a public sector setting.
- Preference may be given to applicants who are graduates of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program, although program completion is not a prerequisite. Preference may also be given to applicants who have completed graduate-level degree programs or course work.
- Individuals whose organizations have been represented in the Harvard Fellowship Program during 2005 - 2007 will not be considered.
- The program is available to international participants.
Previous Fellowship Selections
- 2008 Harvard Executive Fellowship Selections
- 2007 Harvard Executive Fellowship Selections
- 2006 Harvard Executive Fellowship Selections
- 2005 Harvard Executive Fellowship Selections
- 2004 Harvard Executive Fellowship Selections
- 2003 Harvard Executive Fellowship Selections
- 2002 Harvard Executive Fellowship Selections
Last Updated: April 23, 2008
U.S. Fire Administration, 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727
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