What is the Harvard Fire Executive Fellowship Program? The Harvard Fire Executive Fellowship Program provides senior fire executives an opportunity to attend the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. The three-week program, offered June 2-20, 2014 and again on July 7-25, 2014, provides a balance of traditional and hands-on learning experiences to help seasoned public officials meet the changing needs of their constituents and communities.

The Fellowship program is sponsored through a partnership between the International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Fire Service Training Association/Fire Protection Publications, the National Fire Protection Association, and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program overview

Who can apply?

• Application is open to senior fire/emergency medical executives from a local or State fire/emergency services organization 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 2011, 2012, or 2013 will not be considered. The program is available to international participants.
• Fellows selected to attend the State and Local Program will be considered privileged to have participated in a superior professional development program. Because of the associated costs for each sponsor in supporting the fellowships, the organizations want to ensure that funds are directed towards the candidates who will leverage the most return for the investment made. Fellows are expected to “give-back” professionally in future years and may be contacted by the sponsoring organizations to support and participate in a selected project(s) or initiative(s). If selected to participate in the final interview process, you will be expected to address this question as part of the process: “How will the candidate use the State and Local Program experience to benefit her/his own organization and community, the fire/emergency services profession, and the sponsoring organizations?”

How do I apply?

• Enclose a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Respond in writing to the following questions, using for each question 250 words or less.
  • At your current position, what are your specific duties and responsibilities? Describe the functions or services provided by your organization. Please list the number of employees in your organization, the number of employees under your direct supervision, the annual operating budget or your organization (if applicable), and for what portion of your budget you are responsible. If you are an elected official, please describe your committee assignments or size of jurisdiction.
  • Describe the most significant strategic challenges at work.
  • Describe your immediate and long-term career goals. How will attending this program help you to achieve them?
• Enclose a letter of recommendation from your senior official. If you are the Chief, then the letter should be written by the jurisdictional head (e.g., Mayor or City Manager). Otherwise, the recommendation should be from the Fire Chief.
• Assemble the above items in order (resume, question responses, letter of recommendation). Create a cover page with the following information: name, title, department, department address, business phone, and email address. Clip the cover page to the assembled items.
• At this time no additional applications, including the Harvard Kennedy School application, are required. Please submit the above information on regular paper stock and do not bind or place in special covers or presentation folders.
• Mail the application package (traceable mail with receipt is recommended) no later than February 28, 2014 (postmark) to the following address:


Harvard Fellowship Program International Association of Fire Chiefs c/o Ms. Cynthia Cox 4025 Fair Ridge Drive - Suite 300 Fairfax, Virginia 22033-2868

Please do not submit your application package directly to the Harvard Kennedy School of Government!

• The final interview/selection process will be held in Emmitsburg, MD at the National Fire Academy sometime in April. You will be notified approximately 3-4 weeks in advance if you are a finalist. You are responsible for travel expenses to Emmitsburg.
• If selected to receive a fellowship, you will be assigned to attend one of the two session dates: June 2-20, 2014 or July 7-25, 2014. You (or your sponsoring organization) are responsible for transportation and related travel to/from Cambridge, MA and some other minor expenses. The tuition, materials, lodging, and most meals are provided through the Fellowship award.

For questions regarding application procedures only, please contact the U.S. Fire Administration’s Tracey Hefelfinger at (301) 447-1085 or tracey.hefelfinger@fema.dhs.gov

If your organization or position should change (voluntarily or involuntarily) after the application package has been submitted, please notify Ms. Hefelfinger.