Division Chief Mahr completes Executive Fire Officer Program

FALLBROOK – North County Fire Protection District recently announced that Division Chief Kevin Mahr has completed the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.

NFA’s Executive Fire Officer Program is a four-year program that provides senior fire officers with a broad perspective on various facets of fire and emergency services administration. The courses and accompanying research examine how to exercise leadership when dealing with difficult or unique problems within communities.

Mahr has been with North County Fire for 32 years serving as a reserve firefighter, firefighter/paramedic, fire captain and battalion chief. He is currently division chief of operations.

Mahr earned an associate degree in fire science, a bachelor’s degree in fire administration and completed the EFO program. The first year focuses on executive development and is designed to assist fire service personnel in developing effective management and leadership skills as they make the transition from manager to senior executive.

The second year’s focus is executive analysis of community risk reduction which is designed to help students to become a community risk-reduction leader. Students build a demographic and risk profile of their home community and examine social, cultural, economic and environmental trends that impact community risk.

Year three emphasizes executive analysis of fire service operations in emergency management which enables students to better prepare their communities for large-scale, multiagency, all-hazard incidents.

The fourth year’s executive leadership course provides students with the framework of executive-level competencies by focusing primarily on issues and areas of personal effectiveness.

Mahr will be honored in a virtual graduation ceremony hosted by the National Fire Academy Tuesday, May 11. He will join Fire Chief Stephen Abbott and other fire service professionals throughout the world who carry this elite designation.

Submitted by North County Fire Protection District.