Officer Development Program
Chief Officer II Virtual Training Series
The Montana State Fire Chiefs Association has partnered with Columbia Southern University and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) to offer the Leadership Development Certification Series Chief Officer II as a virtual module of the IAFC’s Officer Development Program (ODP).
Participants meet for six 90-minute virtual training session, then complete two additional online training sessions, followed by a multiple choice exam. Those who complete the full series earn Chief Officer II certification. The cost is $225 for IAFC members and $275 for IAFC non-members.
Courses are led by seasoned instructors and incorporate interactive discussions, real-world case studies, and hands-on exercises designed around the unique demands facing today’s chief officers.
Beyond sharpening leadership skills, decision-making, and strategic thinking, participants earn continuing education units (CEUs) that reflect their dedication to professional growth. Students who pass the certification exam with a score of 70% or higher receive an IAFC certification upon completing LDCS-Chief Officer II. Graduates are also eligible for 1.3 CEUs or one undergraduate college credit hour, applicable toward any degree program at CSU.
Our first training in the series will be held on April 15. There is no cost to attend the individual sessions, however, if you wish to receive the certification you will need to register using this link.
Upcoming Training
Trust is the currency of leadership. Every decision, conversation, and action either deposits into or withdraws from a leader’s trust account. Most leaders have a superficial understanding of Leadership Equity or Leadership Capital.
But what do those terms really mean? Trust is the greatest shaper of culture, accountability, and performance because a leader’s effectiveness comes down to one thing: Trust. This session reframes trust not as a soft concept, but as a measurable leadership asset that directly impacts their effectiveness.
Participants will explore a practical Leadership Model. Reframing Trust as the actual currency system in which leadership operates. Including the 4 Levels of Trust and the 7 C’s of building and garnering Trust accounts that leaders must consistently demonstrate to earn, develop, and sustain trust across their organization. Drawing on concepts from professional sports and team building in the fire service, attendees will examine how leadership behavior influences trust in high-pressure environments, including during change, conflict, and adversity. Grounded in the RGB Mindset and Rule #5, Trust the Process, this session equips fire service leaders with actionable strategies to view trust as a currency, intentionally rebuild credibility, and lead with consistency and clarity. Chiefs and command staff will leave with tools they can immediately apply to strengthen relationships, reinforce accountability, and build resilient, high-performing cultures rooted in trust.
Learning Objectives
- Participants will be able to:Define trust as a form of leadership currency.
- Explain the 4 Levels of Trust and their impact on culture.
- Define the 7 C’s for garnering, developing, and earning Trust.
- Identify behaviors that either create trust (interest) or debt (resentment).
- Identify strategies to mentor personnel for skill advancement and career progression.
- Recognize approaches for inspiring professional growth and fostering a culture of continuous
learning. - Indicate tactics for evaluating personnel development programs and ensuring effectiveness.
- Select methods to advocate mentorship by cultivating future leaders within a department.
Instructor
Matthew S. Caward – Division Chief (RET) Founder, RGB Firehouse Leadership
Matt Caward has extensive experience building successful organizational cultures in the Fire Service, Professional Sports, Full-time Ministry, and Business. Matt is a certified smoke diver, a published author, and a nearly 3-decade veteran of the Fire Service. Having served with the Bernalillo County Fire Department in Albuquerque, NM, for 20 years, and most recently as the Division Chief of Operations and Training at the Grand Island Fire Department.
Matt is an ordained pastor with more than 2 decades of experience and a certified Fire Department Chaplain. He holds multiple credentials from the Center of Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), where He serves as a peer reviewer and mentor and was this year’s recipient of the Ray Picard Award for Leadership Excellence. Matt is a graduate of the NFA’s managing officer program, a current EFO student, and a graduate of the Fire Service Chief Executive Officer program at Texas A&M University. Matt is currently a doctoral student in Organizational Leadership with both an MBA and a master’s degree in theology. He is an instructor at the National Fire Academy, the New Mexico State Fire Academy, and Central New Mexico Community College.
Matt is currently the General Manager of the professional indoor football franchise, the Nebraska Siege, and the founder and former owner of the back-to-back world champion Duke City Gladiators (Albuquerque, NM). He is the Founder and CEO of RGB Firehouse Leadership consulting agency, a volunteer firefighter with the Grand Island Rural Fire Department, a volunteer associate pastor at Abundant Life Christian Church in Grand Island, and a US Army Veteran. He is married to his beautiful wife, Crystal, celebrating their 30th year of marriage this year, and is a proud father to 3 amazing daughters.
This session examines firefighter wellness beyond standard fitness programs and considers the wider factors that influence long-term health, readiness, and career span. It emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in areas like sleep, nutrition, physical training, and recovery, and how these habits impact performance and disease risk over time.
The presentation also covers how departments can go beyond informal encouragement and put practical systems in place that support healthy behaviors. Attendees will learn how individual habits and departmental culture work together to influence firefighter health and operational readiness.
Instructor
Annette Zapp, MA, CISSN, CSCS*D
Annette Zapp retired in 2024 after a 20-year career in the fire service, where she served as a Lieutenant. She is the founder of Fire Rescue Wellness, a coaching business dedicated to advancing the mental and physical health of firefighters worldwide. A recognized leader in firefighter wellness, AZ co-authored the ISSN Position Stand on Tactical Athlete Fueling and a recent review on creatine use in the firefighting population. She also shares evidence-based resources with the fire service each week through the FRW Podcast.
Zapp holds a master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. She is a National Strength and Conditioning Association CSCS*D and TSAC-F*D and is certified as a Sports Nutritionist through the ISSN. She previously served as adjunct faculty in the University of Denver’s graduate program in Sport Coaching. In August 2024, she began her PhD studies in Health and Human Performance at Oklahoma State University.