Novi Fire Department Lts. Joshua A. Bunse and Remo Oliverio continued to advance their leadership skills by successfully completing Eastern Michigan University’s School of Fire Staff and Command last week.

The two lieutenants spent 10 months in the program, which takes the fire officer beyond traditional operation methods and exposes them to conceptual thinking and problem solving. Over the course of the 350-hour program, Bunse and Oliverio learned about problem analysis, management situations, project management, grant funding, managing fiscal budgets and managing personnel matters.

The ultimate goal of the school is to better prepare the professional fire officer to effectively manage their fire agency.

Bunse

“I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication Josh and Remo have shown by completing the Staff and Command Program,” Novi Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police David E. Molloy said. “I have every confidence the training specific to leadership, planning and decision-making, human resources, administration and critical incident/homeland security has prepared them to meet the many challenges the Novi Fire Department faces every day.”

Bunse has been with the Novi Fire Department for 12 years, starting as a fire protection officer before being promoted to lieutenant in 2012. Oliverio began working in Novi 10 years ago as a paid-on-call firefighter before being promoted to fire protection officer in 2006 and lieutenant in 2012.

The School of Fire Staff and Command education/training program develops fire officers destined for senior leadership within their departments. With technology advancing at such a rapid rate, senior fire officers must be prepared with the knowledge, skills and abilities afforded private industry, which are sometimes ignored in public service.

For more information about the Novi Fire Department, go to cityofnovi.org.