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Officer Development Program

The IAFC’s Officer Development Program (ODP) (pdf) is the only one of its kind providing company and chief officers with leadership education to excel in their current position while gaining valuable skills for career advancement.

This program was designed following the IAFC’s Officer Development Handbook and the courses meet the necessary Job Performance Requirements (JPRs) outline by NFPA 1021 (see details below graphic).

IAFC's OPD Progression (click to enlarge):

New! Executive Chief Officer Leadership Symposium (ECO)

ECO, the newest level of the officer development program, addresses topics such as marketing, branding and public relations, government relations and policy—including a city and county manager panel discussion. This program features top business executives and highly successful fire service executives who have valuable information for moving your organization forward.

2012 ECO education schedule

Company Officer Leadership Symposium (COLS)

Introduced in 2007, COLS is the premier program offering real, in-depth leadership training for company officers seeking career advancement. COLS learning objectives (pdf) support many of the Job Performance Requirements (JPRs) outlined in NFPA 1021 (Fire Officer 1 and II) and the IAFC Self-Development Dimensions.

2012 COLS education schedule

Sponsored by

Chief Officer Leadership Symposium (CHIEF)

The CHIEF program consists of two levels: one for newer chiefs and the other for more veteran officers. Attendees learn from instructors with years of fire service and life experience in such areas as mentoring, human resources, fire service law, fire prevention, community relations, and health and safety. CHIEF learning objectives (pdf) support JPRs outlined in NFPA 1021 (Fire Officer III and IV) and the IAFC Self-Development Dimensions.

2012 CHIEF education schedule

Sponsored by

"I look forward to FRI every year because it really provides a variety of career development sessions for virtually all ranks and positions in the fire service - especially the Chief Officer and the Company Officer ranks. If you have any aspirations of getting promoted in the fire service or just being the best fire officer you can be, FRI has something for you."

Steve Prziborowski, Deputy Chief, Santa Clara County (CA) Fire Department