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The 2026 California Fire Chiefs Academy (formally known as Chief Officer Leadership Symposium “COLS”) will be held during the 2026 California Fire Training Officer’s Symposium March 16-20, 2026, in Fresno, CA. 

This immersive, week-long academy is designed for newly appointed fire chiefs and senior chief officers preparing to step into the political, interpersonal, and organizational realities that no traditional class truly covers. Today’s fire chiefs must lead far beyond tactics—they are expected to navigate local, State, and Federal politics, manage complex personalities, build strategic relationships, and master the unwritten rules of executive leadership.

The Academy delivers these “lessons you only learn the hard way” through candid discussions, case-based learning, peer collaboration, executive session presentations, and real-world problem solving. Participants are guided by tenured current and former California fire chiefs who speak openly about what works, what fails, and what commonly derails a chief’s tenure.

Replacing and modernizing the highly successful legacy Chief Officer Leadership Symposium (COLS), this program blends strategic leadership, political acumen, personal management, labor relations, organizational culture, and what many affectionately call “fire chief charm school”—the diplomacy, tone, and executive presence required to thrive under pressure.

The curriculum emphasizes interactive learning, authentic leadership challenges, and building the professional network every chief needs from day one. Graduates leave with a clear-eyed understanding of the fire chief role, the competencies essential to succeed, and a renewed commitment to leading with integrity, strategy, and confidence.

Instructors/Facilitators:

• Mark Heine, Fire Chief (ret), Sonoma Couty Fire District, CalChiefs Executive Director

• Jeff Meston, Fire Chief/City Manager/CalChiefs Executive Director (ret)

• Bill Alcorn, Fire Chief, City of Fresno, CalChiefs Northern Division Director

• Mark Bisbee, Fire Chief (ret), State Fire Training

Contact for additional information: Executive Director Mark Heine at mark.heine@calchiefs.org.