Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Division Chief/Fire Marshall Scott Kline graduated
from the National Fire Academy’s (NFA) Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program
on Thursday, March 24. Kline joins an elite group of less than one percent of
all senior fire officials nationwide who have graduated from this executive
program.

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) website states “the EFO program is the
pinnacle of the USFA’s commitment to support the needs of fire and
emergency medical services agencies in preparing executive officers.”
The intensive program consists of a two-week class every year for four years
onsite at the NFA’s campus in Emmitsburg, Md. Each class is equivalent to an

upper-division baccalaureate or graduate-level course and can be used for
obtaining a graduate level degree.

“The EFO Program allowed me the opportunity to identify situations and
conduct research that could then be applied to improve both our fire district
and community,” Kline said.

During the four-year program, Division Chief Kline took courses in Executive
Development, Executive Analysis of Community Risk Reduction, Executive
Analysis of Fire Service Operations in Emergency Management and Executive
Leadership, a course which focuses primarily on issues and areas of personal
effectiveness. Kline would then produce a written Applied Research Project
(ARP) within six months of completing each course. The ARP was required to
relate to factors that could influence the Hoodland Fire District.

“I always look for educational opportunities. I look how it will benefit me with
what I am doing for the fire district,” Kline said.

The EFO program uses two different selection criteria to admit students:
service and academic. Service requirements include holding the rank of a chief
officer, or key individuals that hold a position of authority or leadership.
Academically, students are required to have a bachelor’s degree or a
combination of college credits and life experiences.

Kline has been with the HFD for 37 years. He began as a volunteer firefighter
in November, 1984 and was hired as a career firefighter with the district in
November, 2004.

Kline’s education includes an Associates of Applied Science (AAS) in Fire
Protection Technology (Portland Community College), Bachelor of Science
(BS) in Geography and Regional Planning (Eastern Oregon University) and a
Certificate of Paramedic Education (Oregon Health Sciences University/Oregon
Institute of Technology).

Kline has resided in Welches since 1996. Prior to that he was a resident of
Government Camp.

Kline offered his thanks for the district’s support and for allowing him time
away from work each year to attend classes and complete the EFO program.
He also thanked his wife Lisa and their family for the encouragement and
support through the process.

“I would have not completed this program without the support of everyone in
my family and firefighting family,” Kline said.