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The Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program is the pinnacle of the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA's) commitment to support the needs of fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in preparing executive officers to meet the ever-changing demands of the dynamic communities in which they serve. Consequently, the USFA is focused on supplementing, not duplicating, existing programs of training, technology and research, data collection and analysis, and public education.
The open application period for acceptance into the EFO Program is suspended until further notice. To meet the needs of existing students and catch up on scheduling delays due to COVID-19, we do not anticipate accepting applications prior to Fall 2022. We will post application instructions when the suspension is lifted.
The current EFO Program structure is a direct result of extensive feedback collected from EFO Program graduates, students, instructors and various stakeholders. By offering a combination of residential courses and blended online learning, students may move through the coursework at their own pace. Students have up to 4 years to complete the program but can complete the program in as little as 2 years if scheduling permits.
The culminating portion of the EFO Program is comprised of 3 capstone pillars to demonstrate bold and imaginative solutions to critical issues cultivated by the executive throughout the program. Students integrate, synthesize and apply the knowledge, skills and perspectives acquired throughout the EFO Program and demonstrate mastery of all program elements during an online, instructor-led course and a resident course.
All components of the capstone project are graded assignments. The capstone pillars are:
For students enrolled in the original 4-year program, the last Executive Leadership class will be held in 2022.
Information for EFO legacy studentsContact the EFO Help Desk for more information on the EFO Program.