Deputy fire chief recognized for graduation from elite leadership program

LACONIA — Deputy Fire Chief Louis Loutrel was recognized by the mayor and city council last week for his graduation from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.

The EFO Program is the U.S. Fire Administration’s highest-level leadership program. Senior fire officers receive professional development in “executive leadership, emergency services operations, and community risk reduction.” Across the U.S., less than 1% of fire service professionals have completed the program since its start in 1985.

Loutrel completed courses at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. In order to graduate from the EFO Program, Loutrel had to complete a capstone applied project, investigating a key issue significant to his community. Loutrel wrote and defended a research paper titled “The role of structured leadership training and succession planning in preparing chief offices in New Hampshire.”

“By completing this program, Deputy Chief Loutrel joined a select group of national leaders committed to shaping the future of fire service. Deputy Chief Loutrel's accomplishment is a reflection of the kind of leadership that makes a difference. Leadership built on dedication, humility, hard work, and a genuine commitment to serving others,” Mayor Mike Bordes read to the council and public on Aug 24. “On behalf of the City of Laconia and its residents, we extend our heartfelt appreciation for his continued service, leadership, and dedication to the Laconia Fire Department and to the people he serves.”

Loutrel started the leadership program in 2024, which typically takes two years to complete. Due to the federal government shutdown, the program was delayed for about eight months, as the National Fire Academy was shut down along with FEMA and Homeland Security. Loutrel graduated Aug. 14.

Through this program, Loutrel said there were three graduate modules: executive leadership for self, executive leadership for the organization, and executive leadership for the community.

“For example, community focuses on the fire department's relations with the community, and how to better serve the community, and be an advocate for the community in general,” Loutrel said.

After the last course, fire officers do a “staff ride” to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, about 10 minutes outside Emmitsburg.

“You go throughout the battlefields with a licensed battlefield guide, and you learn about the different leadership techniques that were used during Gettysburg, and how they relate to the fire service,” Loutrel said.

The last leg of the program is the capstone project.

“It’s basically a summation of everything you learn, and how you're applying those executive leadership level tactics you learned to a topic within the fire service currently,” Loutrel said.

In addition to three courses, plus the capstone project and staff ride, Loutrel said there are various things officers are working on in between.

“In between the second and third course, there were certain community stakeholders I had to interview, and gather some data on how they viewed relationships with the fire department.”

Loutrel said he would “absolutely” recommend this program to his peers. Fire Chief Tim Joubert is an EFO Program graduate, and Deputy Chief Scott Lewandowski is about halfway through the program currently.

“It's invaluable in some of the leadership topics that are discussed there, and also the relationships that you make with other fire service leaders, to gain mentorship and have a peer-to-peer group where you're able to discuss different leadership topics, and how to handle things,” Loutrel said.