Shrewsbury – Shrewsbury Fire Department Captain Seth Colby was one of 33 fire officers from 33 communities who graduated Dec. 11 from the 21st offering of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program. The 13-week program was developed in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standards for chief fire officers, and is delivered jointly by the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. It is a comprehensive course providing training in the non-fire suppression aspects of managing fire departments.
Colby, a member of the Shrewsbury Fire Department since 1997, was appointed as a permanent captain in May of 2007 and has served as the department training officer. He is member of the regional Technical Rescue Team and has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from Anna Maria College.
“These fire service leaders are committed to continually developing their management and leadership skills in order to provide the highest level of service to the communities they protect,” State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan said.
The curriculum covers a spectrum of topics considered essential for effective public sector management. It includes human resource management, group dynamics, leadership and legal issues, governmental and organization structures, information management, customer-focused strategic planning, legal aspects, budgets and public finance, community awareness and public relations, and labor relations.