Fire chief hones his management skills

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Chief Tay Robertson is demonstrating that the learning curve never ends, even when you hold the top firefighting job in Sisters.

Robertson spent two weeks in late April and early May attending a finance training session at the National Fire Academy at Emmitsburg, Maryland about 10 miles south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

“The course that I attended was called ‘Fire Service Financial Management,’ a two-week course attended by 20 chief officers from around the country,” Robertson said. “The course has upper-division credit at George Washington University.”

Objectives of the course were to provide knowledge and planning for development of budgeting and funding implementation. The course also covered how to present a budget, a critical part of any successful budgeting process, Robertson added.

“My expenses in attending the training are paid by the federal government, not the local fire district,” he said. “So while taxpayers funded my training and travel expenses, it came from federal taxes, not local taxes.”

This was the 12th time he had attended classes at the academy. He has completed a four-year advanced executive fire officer program in the past and continues to participate in specialized continuing education classes. He presents information from these classes as an instructor both in the local fire district and throughout Oregon.

“The benefit for the department and the district is that I am better skilled in preparing budgets that are in the public’s interest,” Robertson said. “Not only do I teach, I have to learn too at the fire chief level. I am a firm believer in training and continuing education. Especially with public safety, it is critical that all of our people be the best that they can be. I do encourage our people to attend classes at the academy and other training.”

Robertson was very much aware of the high level of security at the academy since it is a major federal installation.

The U.S. Fire Administration manages the National Fire Academy and offers specialized courses for fire and emergency services professionals. Courses are offered both at the Maryland facility and throughout the nation in cooperation with state and local agencies.