Burlington Assistant Fire Chief Completes Executive Fire Officer Program

BURLINGTON — Fire Chief Steve Yetman is pleased to announce that Assistant Fire Chief Michael Thomas Patterson Jr. has successfully completed the Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP).

EFOP is a course conducted through the National Fire Academy (NFA) — a division of the U.S. Fire Administration under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — that provides senior fire officers with a broad perspective on various facets of fire and emergency services administration. The curriculum and accompanying research examine how to exercise leadership when dealing with difficult or unique problems within communities.

The program, which spans a four-year period, consists of four graduate and upper-division-baccalaureate equivalent courses taken at the NFA in Emmitsburg, Md. Six months after each course’s completion, participants finished an Applied Research Project within their own department to demonstrate mastery of course theory and real-life applications. During EFOP, Assistant Chief Patterson developed both active shooter and hoarding guidelines for the department.

“I am pleased to recognize Assistant Chief Patterson for this major accomplishment,” Chief Yetman said. “Completing EFOP shows a long-term dedication to his duties as an executive fire officer as well as the Burlington Fire Department.”

Assistant Chief Patterson was appointed to his current position in October 2010. He has served as a member of the Burlington Fire Department since 1988.

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