35 graduate from Fire Service Chief Executive Officer program
COLLEGE STATION – Thirty-five fire service leaders graduated from the capstone Fire Service Chief Executive Officer (FSCEO) program on Oct. 16. The program is a joint initiative between the Leadership Development Program of the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and the Texas A&M University Mays Business School.
Graduates of the fifth FSCEO class came from across Texas plus one from Indiana and one from California. The weeklong program was held Oct. 12-16 at the Center for Executive Development on the Texas A&M campus.
Faculty in the Mays Business School led sessions on topics such as the challenges of leadership, finance for executives, ethics and strategic management and planning. Attendees also learned about creativity and innovation, managing change and transition, media relations and stress management.
“The TEEX Fire Service Chief Executive Officer program has provided invaluable education to its graduates,” said Training Manager Robert Barron. There are now 146 alumni of the fire service leadership program.
“Less than a week after graduation, I had new graduates contact me to say they are already implementing what they learned at their respected organizations,” Barron added. “The program continues to grow as we see it being preferred, if not required, in high-level fire service positions. Our next class is scheduled for May 2016 and is already over half full.”
Fire Chief David Coatney of the Round Rock Fire Department is a recent graduate of the program and had this to say: “Over my 30-plus years in the fire service I have participated in a number of high-caliber training programs. The Fire Service Chief Executive Officer course has been one of the better training programs I have had the fortune to attend. The quality of the instructors, course content, and ability to interact with other leaders in the fire service made it an excellent value for both the time and money spent. I recommend it without any reservations!”