HISTORY OF THE EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM:

The idea of establishing an Executive Development Institute was the impetus of the Chief Officers Resource Committee (CORC) imposed responsibility to share it's wealth of knowledge with African American Fire Service personnel aspiring to be future executives in the Fire Service.

Members of the Chief Officers Resource Committee (CORC) forged this idea into the fabric of our organization during the 1986, 1988, and 1990 biennial conventions

In 1991 the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) held its annual problem solving retreat in Washington, D. C. One of the current problems facing the IABPFF dealt with the lack of upward mobility of its membership in their local Fire Departments.

Carl Holmes, a retired Fire Chief of the Oklahoma City Fire Department, a consultant, and IABPFF Executive Director was selected as the facilitator of our plan of action to attain an Executive Development Institute.

The IABPFF Executive Board decided that our Institute should be held each year at an African American University. The beginning years of the Executive Development Institute were held on the campus of Florida A & M and later relocate for greater geographical access to the campus of Dillard University.

The focus of course content was to be the development of future Fire Department Officers and that the course content should cover those unique conceptual, diagnostic, and human skills so overlooked in most Fire Department management training programs.

The final design of the Institute was that the courses offered were to be of one-week duration offered in five phases. The concept proved to be a great success, with many of our participants being promoted to higher positions, too many to name.

In 2000, Articles of Incorporation for the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute were filed.

Many of our students have become Chiefs of their Departments. The course offering now far exceeds any management-training program in this profession. We as an Institute are proud of our many successes.

DILLARD UNIVERSITY:

Located on a 35-acre campus in a residential section of New Orleans, Dillard's physical facilities include some of the best in the region. The atmosphere of learning is quietly conveyed by oak-shaded walkways, handsome white buildings, and landscaped lawns. Dillard University's roots go back to 1869, the year in which both Straight University, later renamed Straight College, and the Union Normal School, subsequently renamed New Orleans University, were founded.

Both institutions initially offered instruction on the elementary level, then extended to the secondary, collegiate and professional levels. These two institutions merged in 1930 to form Dillard University. The University was named in honor of Dr. James Hardy Dillard, whose distinguished service in the education of blacks in the South forms an important chapter in the history of American education. It was Dr. Dillard who suggested the University's motto: "Ex Fide Fortis" (From Confidence, Courage). The quality of Dillard's educational program is attested to in part by the 70-80 percent of all Dillard alumni who pursue graduate study in universities throughout the nation and abroad. Another sign of Dillard's quality can be found in the many areas of education in which it has pioneered. In 1935, Dillard introduced the first undergraduate general education curriculum in the South. Dillard was also the first college in Louisiana to offer a nationally-accredited collegiate program in nursing. The University's Japanese Studies program is the first among historically Black colleges and universities and the first at any university in the South Central United States. Dillard University has continued to provide an educational atmosphere geared to nurturing and supporting students. The student teacher ratio is approximately 15 to 1, providing for individualized attention and instruction. Students are encouraged to take advantage of internships, foreign travel and dual degree programs.