Dr. Denis Onieal

U.S. Fire Administration’sNational Fire AcademyOverview of the NFA National System for Training

P.L. 93-498: “…The purpose of the Academy shall be to advance the professional development of fire service personnel and of other persons engaged in fire prevention and control activities…”

Dr. Denis Onieal

The NFA prepares current and future first responders to foster a solid foundation for local fire and emergency services’ prevention, preparedness and response to fires and all-hazards.

We deliver the kinds of training unavailable at the State or local level because of course content, emergent needs or audience size.

We work with and through State and local fire training systems and colleges and universities to bring the fire service to professional status.

Dr. Denis Onieal

Federal

State

College

Local

Current System

National Fire Academy

State Training

Local Training

Colleges

&

Universities

Dr. Denis Onieal

Communications USFA Notification list – 86,000 (daily distribution)

TRADE – 40,000 (weekly distribution)

FESHE – 36,000 (monthly distribution)

Alumni Association - 27,000 (as-needed distributions)

ALSO – Each State Fire Training director, Metro fire training, IAFC, IAFF, NVFC, Volunteer and Combination Chiefs, Metro Chiefs, Women in the Fire Service, International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, National Association of Hispanic Firefighters, International Association of Hispanic Firefighters, Native American Fire Chiefs

Dr. Denis Onieal

Resident Programs(10 and 6 day on-campus)

50 courses (200+ deliveries)

6 or 10 day duration at Emmitsburg, MD

Dr. Denis Onieal

6 Day Programs(on- and off-campus)

IX V

I

IV

III

VII

VIII

VII

I

X

Students are career and volunteer, all ranks

Encourages regional networking

II

IRegion selects 3 courses from menu of 20

Thirty 6-day courses per year, 3 per region

Dr. Denis Onieal

2 Day Programs(on- and off-campus)

Each State receives 9 courses from a menu of40 each year.

Total of 450 deliveries per

year.

• Students are volunteer and career / all ranks

Dr. Denis Onieal

Technology Programs / Blended Learning

47,000 Completions in 2011

Dr. Denis Onieal

NFA Training – All curriculumsYear On-

CampusOff-CampusClassroom /

Partner

Off-CampusOn-Line

Total

2011 6,800 56,200 47,000 109,000

2010 7,300 64,000 41,500 112,000

2009 8,300 71,700 40,000 120,000

2008 8,000 76,000 30,000 114,000

2007 8,000 86,100 5,900 100,000

2006 8,300 65,700 74,000

2005 8,900 64,100 73,000

Dr. Denis Onieal

Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE)Common Course:

• Titles

• Descriptions

• Outcomes

• Outlines

• Content (Textbooks)

• Distance Learning Supplements

Dr. Denis Onieal

“Coffee Break” TrainingShort non-certificate courses once a week via email. Quarterly Self-quiz at the end.

• Fire protection systems

• Building construction

• Fire codes and standards

• Inspection techniques

• Hazardous materials

Dr. Denis Onieal

Curriculum Areas Executive Development (EFO)

Management Sciences

Hazardous Materials

Emergency Medical Services

Planning and Information (data analysis)

Fire Prevention (3) – Technical, Management, Public Education

Command and Control

Fire Investigation

Dr. Denis Onieal

The NFA

Develops and delivers the kinds of courses unavailable anywhere else

On-campus, off-campus and on-line

Classes from 10 days to 10 minutes

Up-to-date curriculum

College credit recommendation for all classroom based courses

Continuing education units for all on line courses

Dr. Denis Onieal

Students’ SupervisorEvaluation

American Council on Education

State and Local Training

Systems

Student Evaluation

Performance

NFA’s Independent / Objective Evaluations

Dr. Denis Onieal

INPUT

Amount of resources devoted to a program activity

Example: Dollars appropriated and FTE’s assigned to a job training program

OUTPUT

Tabulation, calculation or recording of activity or effort, expressed in a quantitative or qualitative manner.

Example: Number of people trained by program

OUTCOME

Assessment of the results of a program activity compared to its intended purpose.

Example: Number of people trained by a program that landed and kept jobs

Areas where agencies are comfortableArea where

taxpayers are concerned

The Congressional Institute uses the following graph to define the differences between outputs and outcomes (Congressional Institute, 2004). Conveniently, they use training as the example:Comparison of Inputs, Outputs and Outcomes of Government Programs

Dr. Denis Onieal

NFA Long Term Evaluation - Supervisors*

Agree85%

Unsure11%

Disagree4%

Course Improved Attendee's Job Performance

*N=7,053 supervisors from FY 1998 – May 2012.

Dr. Denis Onieal

NFA Long Term Evaluation - Supervisors*

Agree84%

Unsure12%

Disagree4%

Information Gained is Likely to Improve Department Performance

*N=7,053 supervisors from FY 1998 - May 2012.

Dr. Denis Onieal

NFA Long Term Evaluation - Supervisors*

Agree93%

Unsure5%

Disagree2%

Course Contributed to Attendee's Professional Development

*N=7,053 supervisors from FY 1998 - May 2012

PL 93-498

Dr. Denis Onieal

Mission Focused

• DHS

• FEMA

• USFA

Fulfills Legislative Intent

• 93-498 “…Professional development of the fire service…”

Measured Performance

• PART, GPRA, PPBES

• American Council on Education

Focused on outcomes, not outputs

• Kirkpatrick Level III

Dr. Denis Onieal

Classroom Based:

On and off campus

10, 6 and 2 day

Local and regional

Technology Based:

NFAOnline

Coffee Break

Electronic Distribution

Future Based / Profession

Associate Degree

Bachelor Degree

Graduate Degree

Partner Based:

TRADE / PARADE

FESHE

Endorsement

Dr. Denis Onieal

Questions???