The FDNY and the FDNY Foundation celebrated the graduation of the 22nd class of the FDNY Officers Management Institute (FOMI) on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
The ceremony took place at the Commissioner Robert O. Lowery Auditorium at FDNY Headquarters in Brooklyn, as reported by FDNY.
FDNY Chief of Staff Luis Martinez addressed the graduates: “Enrolling in such an intensive program, you took it upon yourselves to take your leadership and management skills to the next level.
“This will serve you well as you lead our members who look to you for guidance. Your accomplishment today makes the Department more effective, efficient, and resilient.”
Captain Matthew Quinn, the class speaker, highlighted the diverse lessons learned during the program: “We learned management in communication, but we also learned psychology, sociology, design thinking, and game theory.
“Fields like these don’t seem like they would matter at even the best Fire Department in the world.
“But that education — and the understanding that came from it — is exactly what we need if we’re going to meet the challenges we’re going to face every day and the challenges we don’t even know are going to happen next.”
FOMI, established in 2002 and funded by the FDNY Foundation, was developed based on a recommendation in the McKinsey Report following September 11th.
The program aims to strengthen FDNY by providing high-ranking officers with a solid foundation in management principles and leadership strategy.
Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh expressed her pride in the graduates: “Congratulations to all of our graduates. I am extremely proud of their accomplishments.
“I commend them on their dedication to furthering their education through FOMI because it will undoubtedly benefit them, the people they lead, and the Department.”
The six-month FOMI program is offered through Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
It includes instruction from educators at Columbia, NYU, Wharton, and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as business leaders from major corporations.
FOMI’s curriculum is designed to make FDNY more resilient and stronger by equipping officers with advanced management and leadership skills.
The program’s comprehensive approach ensures that FDNY leaders are well-prepared to handle both anticipated and unforeseen challenges.
The FDNY Foundation’s support for FOMI reflects its commitment to enhancing the capabilities of FDNY officers through continuous education and professional development.
