The Officer Development Series

The Ohio Fire & Emergency Services Foundation is proud to launch our new Officer Development Series (ODS). We recognize the critical role that mid-level leaders play in the fire service. This series covers key topics for new or aspiring fire officers and aims to support your transition from firefighter to line supervisor. It is designed to offer a tailored learning experience for fire service professionals seeking leadership roles within their organizations. Whether you’re a seasoned officer or an emerging leader, our program is built to address the unique challenges of leading in today’s ever-changing fire service environment. Expert instructors conduct the in-person classes, which are held at the OFCA training center in Worthington. These four-hour classes can be attended individually or as part of the series.

Ask yourself...

• Are you newly promoted?
• Do you want to move up in the ranks?
• Do you want to flourish and not just survive?
• Are you overwhelmed with new responsibilities?

Then this series is for you!

Current Course Topics
ODS currently inculdes the following topics; additional topics are being developed:

• Informal Leadership
• Employee Evaluation
• Employee Discipline
• Budgeting

As many fire officers discovered early on in their careers, the job description is much different from that of a firefighter. A tremendous amount of responsibility is placed on the fire officer with each new promotion. Often, very little is done to prepare them to handle the responsibilities of the job, and they can often be overwhelmed. The ODS aims to help you prepare.

Series Options
The series is offered in 4-hour modules throughout the year at a cost of $125/member; $175/non-member per module (non-members receive a one-year OFCA membership). Modules can be taken as "stand alone" courses or you can complete all four modules and receive the Officer Development Series certificate. 

Class size is limited to 27 students per session 

For more information, contact OFCA Communications & Education Director Colin Altman at caltman@ohiofirechiefs.org.

Upcoming Classes

• Tuesday, October 14: Employee Evaluation: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly - Asst. Chief (Retired) KJ Watts
  • 10 AM to 3 PM, OFCA Training Center, Worthington
  • Lunch provided by Campbell Restoration
  • To register, click HERE
• Wednesday, November 5: Employee Discipline - Asst. Chief (Retired) KJ Watts
  • 10 AM to 3 PM, OFCA Training Center, Worthington
  • Lunch provided