Fire Service

Leadership Academy

Leadership Development Courses designed for the Fire Service

Structured, online courses built for the realities of the job — not the classroom. Developed by a retired Fire Chief with more than 35 years of command experience.

Built for the job. Not for a classroom.

Most leadership training in the fire service is either too generic to be useful or too academic to be applied. These courses were built by someone who has done the job — and they are built the way fire service leaders actually learn.

Fire service specific — all the way through

Every scenario, every example, every framework is built around the firehouse, the command staff room, and the realities of public safety leadership. Nothing has been adapted from the corporate world and repackaged.

Built by someone who has been in the seat

Chief Chris Armstrong spent more than 35 years in operational and executive fire service leadership across two departments and three states. These courses reflect what that experience actually teaches — including what does not work.

You demonstrate competency, not just recall

Every module is built around scenario-based exercises, real firehouse situations, and structured knowledge checks that require application — not just recall. You are not watching a lecture and answering multiple choice questions. You are working through the problems you actually face on the job.

Interactive — not a video lecture

These are fully interactive Rise360 courses delivered on Reach360. Step-by-step sequences, scenario exercises, flashcard sets, knowledge checks, are built into every module. Officers engage with the content — they do not just watch it.

Rank specific — not one-size-fits-all

Each course is built for a specific officer tier. The company officer course does not overlap with the chief officer course. The problems, the language, and the stakes are different at each level — and the courses treat them that way.

Grounded in published doctrine

These courses draw directly from a body of published fire service leadership work — Bugles Don't Make Leaders, Critical Conversations in Fire & EMS, The Thinking Chief Leadership Manual, and Unspoken Rules. The doctrine behind the courses has been field-tested and published.

"The conversation you keep postponing is the one driving the problem. These courses are built on that premise — and on 35 years of watching what happens to organizations and careers when leaders are not ready for the seat they are sitting in."

— Chief Chris Armstrong, retired Fire Chief · Founder, The Thinking Chief Leadership Group

Courses

Filters

The Thinking Chief Leadership Course

Leadership doctrine for fire service officers at every rank

This course translates the proven doctrines of The Thinking Chief Leadership Manual into actionable leadership skills for every rank in the fire service. Through real-world scenarios, self-audits, and case studies, you will build the judgment, presence, and decision-making tools needed to lead teams, shape culture, and earn trust in the moments that matter most. Whether you are a new officer or a seasoned chief, this course will help you master the leadership challenges that define careers and organizations.

Modules:

01 — Foundations of Fire Service Leadership: The Leader Within

02 — Recognizing and Addressing Leadership Failure Patterns

03 — Decision-Making Under Pressure: Applying the 60-Second Reset

04 — Conducting a Personal Leadership Audit

05 — Mastering Decision Doctrines for Effective Leadership

06 — Integrating Human Impact and Decision Autopsies

07 — Timeliness and Accountability in Leadership Decisions

08 — Applying Leadership Doctrines to Personnel Challenges

09 — Shaping Organizational Culture and Leading Change

10 — Building Command Presence and Managing Reputation

11 — Modeling Accountability: Failure, Recovery, and Legacy

12 — Case Study Analysis and Leadership Script Application

13 — Synthesis and Action Planning: Your 90-Day Leadership Plan

Format: Online, self-paced

Length: 13 modules · 20–28 contact hours

Window: Complete within 90–120 days

Who is this for: Company officers through fire chief

$299.00
Critical Conversations in Fire & EMS

A leadership course for all ranks

Most leadership failures in Fire and EMS don't happen on the fireground. They happen in the days before and after — in the feedback that never gets delivered, the standard that quietly drifts, the personnel situation that became a formal complaint because nobody said anything soon enough. This course gives every officer at every rank a repeatable framework for the conversations that shape crew performance, station culture, and organizational standards.

Modules:

01 — The Conversation You Keep Avoiding

02 — The Conversation Framework: The OSAAC Model

03 — Feedback That Changes Behavior

04 — Common Scenarios: The Five Core Personnel Types

05 — The Fire–EMS Divide

06 — Documentation and Progressive Discipline

07 — Evaluations That Actually Work

08 — The Leader in the Conversation

Format: Online, self-paced

Length: 8 modules · 16–20 contact hours

Window: Complete within 90 days

Who is this for: Lieutenants, captains, battalion chiefs, and division chiefs

$199.00
Officer Development Series: From the Seat to the Standard

A leadership course for Lieutenants, Captains and Aspiring Leaders

Transitioning from firefighter to company officer is more than a change in title — it is a shift in responsibility, mindset, and influence. This course guides newly promoted and aspiring fire officers through the essential skills, knowledge, and frameworks needed to lead with clarity, accountability, and credibility. You will explore the real-world challenges of supervision, develop critical communication and administrative skills, and build the leadership foundation to shape your crew and your department for the better.

Modules:

01 — Shifting from Firefighter to Company Officer

02 — Daily Supervision and Crew Leadership

03 — Navigating Difficult Conversations and Conflict

04 — Administrative Excellence: Documentation and Policy

05 — Company-Level Training and Crew Development

06 — Fireground Command and Tactical Decision-Making

07 — Health, Safety, and Behavioral Wellness in the Firehouse

08 — Culture, Character, and the Legacy of Leadership

Format: Online, self-paced

Length: 8 modules · 16–20 contact hours

Window: Complete within 90 days

Who is this for: Lieutenants & Captains, first 12 months at rank

$199.00
Chief Officer Development Series: The Chair Is Different Up Here

A leadership course for Battalion Chiefs, Division Chiefs, and Fire Chiefs

This course guides newly promoted Battalion and Division Chiefs through the challenges and responsibilities of executive leadership. You will move beyond operational expertise to master command-level judgment, administrative acumen, and organizational influence. Through real-world scenarios and actionable strategies, you will develop the mindset, skills, and confidence to lead effectively at the highest levels and leave a lasting legacy for your department.

Modules:

01 — Transitioning from Company Officer to Chief Officer

02 — Understanding Executive Authority and Its Boundaries

03 — Command Staff's Role in Strategy and Governance

04 — Failure Patterns and Leadership Pitfalls for New Chiefs

05 — Developing a Personal Executive Leadership Philosophy

06 — On-Duty Authority and Upward Communication

07 — Mastering Administrative and Fiscal Responsibilities

08 — Navigating Organizational Governance and Legal Frameworks

09 — Understanding and Managing Organizational Politics

10 — Leading Across Divisions and Managing Peer Relationships

11 — Personnel Management at the Command Level

12 — Public Exposure, Media Relations, and Crisis Communication

13 — Shaping Organizational Culture and Building a Leadership Legacy

Format: Online, self-paced

Length: 13 modules · 20–26 contact hours

Window: Complete within 90–120 days

Who is this for: Battalion, Division Chiefs, and Fire Chiefs

$299.00
Executive Decision-Making and Leadership Culture in the Fire Service

A leadership course for senior fire service leaders

When the pressure is on, how do top fire service leaders make decisions that shape lives and organizations? This course delves into the realities of executive leadership in the fire service, where judgment, culture, and decision-making under pressure define success. Designed for fire service executives and senior leaders, you will explore how to exercise sound judgment, foster resilient organizational culture, and lead complex decisions with integrity and confidence. Expect to challenge assumptions, surface blind spots, and walk away with actionable strategies for leading under pressure and building lasting trust.

Modules:

01 — Framing Executive Leadership Under Pressure

02 — Judgment Versus Policy: Navigating High-Pressure Decisions

03 — Organizational Culture in Meetings and Decision Forums

04 — Decision Ownership and Anticipating Consequences

05 — Facilitating and Navigating Dissent

06 — Redesigning Executive Decision-Making Habits

07 — Personal Leadership Patterns and Organizational Signals

08 — Strategic Influence: Leading Up, Out, and Across

09 — Integration and Executive Commitment

Format: Online, self-paced

Length: 9 modules · 20–28 contact hours

Window: Complete within 90–120 days

Who is this for: Deputy chiefs, assistant chiefs, and fire chiefs

$299.00

No results found

No results match your search. Try removing a few filters.

Reviews

“Their attention to detail and commitment to quality truly stood out. We’ve already recommended them to others.”

— Former Customer

“Communication was top-notch and the final outcome was even better than we imagined. A great experience all around.”

— Former Customer

“Every detail was thoughtfully executed. We're thrilled with the outcome.”

— Former Customer