Boise Fire’s Emergency Preparedness Manager graduates from FEMA’s Advanced Academy

Rachel Holford, Boise Fire’s Emergency Preparedness Manager, graduated from FEMA’s National Emergency Management Advanced Academy (NEMAA) at the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, MD., this month.

She completed the advanced curriculum that provided strategic level training and education for emergency management professionals to advance their skills related to program management and oversight, theories and concepts, and case studies related to emergency preparedness. The Academy consisted of four courses: Application of Advanced Individual Concepts in Emergency Management, Assessment of Teams in Professional Emergency Management, Contemporary Issues in the Emergency Management Organization, and Advanced Concepts and Policy in the Emergency Management Professionals.

After graduation, Holford returned back to Boise to help lead the Boise Airport Full-Scale Disaster Exercise that ensures multiple Treasure Valley agencies are prepared in the event of an aviation disaster at the airport. Although we often don’t like to think about large-scale disasters happening in our community, Boise Fire is grateful to have Rachel’s leadership, training and expertise to lead our emergency preparedness and response.