First responders gathered at Davenport University’s W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus this summer as the initial cohort of its First Responder Leadership Program. The nine-week program is designed to equip local emergency service professionals with real-world leadership and management skills.

“Leadership always carries weight, but for our first responder leaders, the stakes are life and death every single day,” said Dan Rundhaug, vice president of the Institute for Professional Excellence (IPEx) and strategic partnerships at Davenport University. “This program was built to match that reality. We’re not teaching generic management theory; we’re developing the emotional intelligence, decision-making and resilience that first responder leaders need in the moments that matter most.”

IPEx serves as the corporate education arm of Davenport University, providing custom corporate training, strategic planning retreats and professional certification preparation.

The First Responder Leadership Program is a comprehensive nine-week development course designed specifically for mid-level managers in police, fire, public works and emergency agencies. The program addresses the realities unique to public safety leadership: high-stakes decision-making, trauma exposure, team trust under pressure, and the mental resilience required to lead effectively in life-and-death environments.

The lead program facilitator, retired Chief Steve Romero, is Davenport University’s director of public safety and compliance. He is a retired law enforcement executive, having served as a sworn law enforcement professional for 30 years, including as deputy director for one of the largest multi-agency Joint Powers Authorities in the country, the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force, focused on dismantling transnational drug and crime syndicates.

“This program has been designed to train students to create and lead meaningful change within their agencies and professions,” said Romero. “Because public safety professions operate in volatile, uncertain, complex and at times ambiguous operational environments, training and education is an essential element for providing unwavering clarity of vision to guide individuals and organizations toward their highest potential.”

The June session included seven members of the Grand Rapids Police Department, two members of the Cascade Township Fire Department and the Lowell Fire Authority chief.

“In fire service, leadership goes far beyond rank,” said Joel Baker, firefighter, Cascade Township Fire Department. “It directly impacts team performance, safety, and the outcomes we deliver on scene. It requires continuous growth, self-awareness and the ability to adapt in high pressure situations.

“The program offered a great mix of subject matter experts and real-world scenarios.”

In advance of the program, participants complete a leadership self-assessment to ground their learnings. Each four-hour weekly session then features a mix of instruction, activities and real-world assignments. The course concludes with a capstone project where participants present an actionable improvement plan.

Thomas Warwick, lieutenant, Grand Rapids Police Department, said “We train often in the areas of tactics, law, policies and other matters regarding day-to-day operations but often we neglect the necessity to continue the education in areas of leadership and how important and impactful this discipline is.”

The program is ideal for professionals seeking to improve their fiscal and strategic skills and advance to a leadership position.

“When we strengthen the leadership of our fire and police divisions, we strengthen the safety and resilience of the whole community,” said Rundhaug. “That’s why IPEx built this program, and why we’re proud to bring it to the men and women who serve on the front lines.”

To learn more about Davenport’s First Responder Leadership Program, call 616-233-2589, email ipex@davenport.edu or visit http://davenport.edu/ipex.