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Special Operations Program Management R0254

Training Specialist


Dave Donohue
301-447-1094

Delivery type


6-day on-campus

Continuing education units


4.0

ACE recommendation


Pending (ACE Review): In the upper-division baccalaureate degree category, 2 semester hours in fire science, emergency management or public safety.

This 6-day course is designed to guide students in gaining and sharing the knowledge, skills and abilities to effectively develop, manage and lead hazardous materials and/or other all-hazards special operations response capabilities used in specialized emergency response. Upon completion of the course, students learn how to analyze the complexities, dynamics and interrelationships of the components of special operations.

Through the interactive lecture, group activities and testing, the students will study:

  • Identification of special operations components.
  • Identification of the interrelationships between each discipline and demonstration of how the manager balances the influences of diverse components.
  • Managing all related disciplines under the same programmatic procedures.
  • Balancing the “spider web” with an understanding of all the unique internal and external demands and influences.
  • The course uses lessons learned on how to identify the needs and develop, implement and sustain a hazardous materials/special operations program.

Students will learn to ensure the program meets the needs of the community and the current standard of care. Historical examples, current models and best practices for community risk-based special response capability development and sustainment are included in the course materials.

This course is not an operational incident management course.

Pre-course materials and course syllabus

Welcome Letter, BYOD Instructions, Precourse Assignment: https://nfa.usfa.fema.gov/ax/pcm/pcm_r0254.pdf PDF 1,124KB
Course Syllabus: https://nfa.usfa.fema.gov/ax/syll/syllabus_r0254.pdf PDF 140KB

  • Hazardous materials/special operations team coordinators, managers and personnel aspiring to become coordinators and managers.
  • Personnel responsible for training, equipping and sustaining specialized response resources.
  • Personnel responsible for the supervision or leadership of a hazardous materials or special operations team or company.

Incident Command System (ICS)-100-level and ICS-200-level training. Preferred courses are Q0462 and Q0463, available through NFA Online.  Chief’s signature attests that the applicant has completed this required training.

Upcoming offerings

Dates Availability Location Contact(s) CCP
April 2 - 7, 2023 Wait List Opportunity Apply Emmitsburg, Maryland
September 24 - 29, 2023 Vacancies Apply Emmitsburg, Maryland
November 12 - 17, 2023 Apply between 4/15/2023 - 6/15/2023 Emmitsburg, Maryland
March 3 - 8, 2024 Apply between 4/15/2023 - 6/15/2023 Emmitsburg, Maryland
May 19 - 24, 2024 Apply between 10/15/2023 - 12/15/2023 Emmitsburg, Maryland
September 8 - 13, 2024 Apply between 10/15/2023 - 12/15/2023 Emmitsburg, Maryland