This course is designed to build upon an existing base of knowledge about fire and emergency services with an in-depth survey of executive-level administrative and managerial topics. The course addresses the following skills that are necessary to manage and lead a fire and emergency services department through the challenges and changes of the 21st century: persuasion and influence, accountable budgeting, anticipation of challenges and the need for change, and using specific management tools for analyzing and solving problems. A central part of the course focuses on how the leadership of a fire and emergency services department develops internal and external cooperation to create a coordinated approach to achieving the department's mission.