EMMITSBURG, Md. - Application procedures have been announced for the 2006 Harvard Fire Executive Fellowship Program. The program is once again 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 Department of Homeland Security - United States Fire Administration (USFA). Each organization will fund the tuition costs of two individuals for a total of eight fellowships.
Deputy United States Fire Administrator Charlie Dickinson said “Recent catastrophic events along with daily challenges remind us of the need for cooperation between senior executives in fire and emergency services organizations and their federal, state, and local level counterparts. This need has never been greater if we are to successfully respond to the many challenges we face as a nation.” Dickinson further stated, “Those individuals selected have an opportunity to inform and educate other state and local government participants of the many contemporary emergency services issues and challenges confronting society, including fire service roles in preparing for, responding to, and mitigating terrorism situations.”
Eight senior fire executives will be awarded fellowships to attend Harvard’s annual “Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.” The 3-week program is conducted on the Harvard campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Selected Fellows will be assigned to attend one of the two session dates:
June 11-30, 2006, July 9-28, 2006.
Applicants must be available to attend either session.
Applicants are responsible for travel costs to the final interview process, and, if selected, also to Cambridge. Housing will be provided at NETC for the interview process. Fellows are expected to continue their professional contributions to fire and emergency services in light of their State and local program experience.
The following criteria and guidelines have been established for the 2006 program:
- 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 2003, 2004, or 2005 will not be considered. The program is available to international participants.
Application Instructions:
(Please follow carefully as the application procedures have changed from prior years).
Applicants must complete and submit two Harvard/Kennedy School of Government (KSG) forms (Kennedy School of Government Universal Form and Recommendation Form). Forms may be requested by logging onto the NFPA, IFTSA, or IAFC websites at www.nfpa.org, www.ifsta.org, www.iafc.org.
On the KSG Universal Form, enter “Senior Executives in State & Local Government” in the program title blank; enter “June or July 2006" in the program date blank; enter “IAFC/IFSTA/NFPA/USFA Fellowship” in the financial sponsor blank. Complete all of the other requests for information. DO NOT MAIL THIS FORM TO HARVARD/KENNEDY SCHOOL.
For the KSG Recommendation Form, ask the Chief of Department to complete this form for you. If you are the Chief, ask your supervisor (e.g., City Manager). For the program selection (at top of form), check the block “Senior Executives in State & Local Government Program.” DO NOT MAIL THIS FORM TO HARVARD/KENNEDY SCHOOL.
Please complete these forms and print for submission. All applicants must include a resume with their submission. All application packages should be forwarded to the following address:
Harvard Fellowship Program
International Association of Fire Chiefs
c/o Ms. Christine Booth
4025 Fair Ridge Drive - Suite 300
Fairfax, Virginia 22033-2868
Packages must be postmarked no later than February 18, 2006. Applicants are encouraged to use return receipt or traceable mail to verify delivery of application package to the IAFC.
For questions regarding application procedures only, please contact Ms. Kathleen Carter at (301) 447-1349 or kathleen.carter@dhs.gov . For more information please refer to the USFA Web site at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/nfa/higher_ed/degree_programs/harvard/ or the Harvard University/John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in State & Local Government Web site at http://ksgexecprogram.harvard.edu/ProgramDetail.aspx?programID=29&sessionID=409
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.