Newark Asst. Fire Chief earns award through research and study

NEWARK - Newark Assistant Fire Chief Tom O'Brien went to Maryland earlier this month knowing he was going to graduate, but it wasn't with a typical degree.

O'Brien became the first Newark Fire Department officer to earn the Executive Fire Officer certificate, an honor that takes four years of coursework and research to complete. 

Since being promoted to assistant chief in 2007, O'Brien had earned his bachelor's degree and a master's degree and decided the EFO program was the next logical step. 

"One of the best things one can do is continue to learn," he said. "It was something I wanted to do."

The program is only open to high level fire department officers and involves taking one course a year, followed by a research or thesis paper. Those papers, once completed, are put into a database for other fire personnel from around the country to consult in their own research. 

O'Brien said his papers were on social media, accreditation, creation of an instant management team and a revamp of evaluation processes. He said he has presented several of his papers to the chief and has used them as an opportunity to look at ways to benefit the department he has worked at for 30 years.

"All the research I've done has all been using the skills to benefit the department, things we can use here," he said. 

Chief Pat Connor said it's a benefit to Newark and to other communities to have someone like O'Brien continue to network and learn about the field. 

"Over the years, the emphasis on education is becoming more prominent in the fire service," Connor said. "It's nice to see our leaders push education forward to better the department." 

A typical class for the EFO program is about 20 people, O'Brien said.

"Probably 100 people or more start it every year, but not everyone will finish it," he said. 

The costs of the four-year program, which is selective based on rank and prior academic experience, are covered by the National Fire Academy. 

Connor said since O'Brien's enrollment and graduation from the program, there have been discussions about other officers participating in the future.

"We do have some interest," he said. 

O'Brien said the only thing he does not currently have academically is a Ph.D, which he said he has no interest in pursuing right now. 

"I've basically been writing papers and in classes for the last 10 years, it's time for a break," he said.