Stacy Drakeford, Washington’s director of police and fire services, completed the Executive Fire Officer Program in February.

The city recognized his achievement during the City Council’s meeting Monday. The program takes four years to complete. It is conducted through the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. NFA is a division of the U.S. Fire Administration under the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The program provides senior fire officers with a wide-ranging perspective on multiple aspects of fire and emergency services administration.

“It was an opportunity to participate in another advanced public-safety leadership program. Previously, I completed the FBI National Academy when I was in South Carolina, and I started this one right before I came to Washington,” Drakeford said about what motivated him to undertake the program. “I believe in, if I’m going to push the employees to attend these schools, then I have to go to these schools.”

The program required much time and academic effort, he said.

“It was four years, four papers. I had six months to write the papers. I was doing something at least every weekend, two or three days a week doing research for the papers. … The four papers we had to write for each class were really research documents,” Drakeford said.

What he learned during the program can be passed along to others under his command, Drakeford noted. “It was one of the better management classes I’ve gone through in my 30 years. Now, we’re trying to get some of the other firemen to go through the same process.”

The program is free, except for meals, Drakeford said. FEMA provides lodging and transportation for program participants.

“We are pleased to recognize Chief Drakeford for this major accomplishment,” City Manager Bobby Roberson said in a statement. “Completing EFOP shows a long-term dedication to his duties as the Director of Police and Fire Services.”

“The curriculum and accompanying research examine how to exercise leadership when dealing with difficult or unique problems within communities,” reads a new release issued by the city.

The program includes four graduate or upper-division- baccalaureate equivalent courses taken at the NFA facility. Six months after each course completion, participants completed an applied research project within their organizations do demonstrate their mastery of course theory and real-life applications, according to the release.

During the four-year program, participants undergo executive development training, learn about performing executive analysis of community risk reduction, learn about performing executive analysis of fire service operations in emergency management and learn executive leadership skills, according to the U.S. Fire Administration website.