October 19–24, 2026 · Six-day residency
Step up. Lead strong. Forge your legacy.
About
The Northern Virginia Fire and Rescue Leadership Development Institute (the LDI) was established in 2013 at the direction of the Northern Virginia Fire Chiefs Committee.
The LDI provides unique and essential leadership training for company-level and command officers. While many fire service programs focus on strategies and tactics, much of an officer’s time is spent with members and citizens in the firehouse—not on the incident scene. Leadership, management, and communication are both an art and a science that must be taught in the fire service, just as they are in the military.
Our storyPrograms
Six-day intensive residencies for company and command officers, selected by their departments and recommended by their chief.
Company (COLP)
Audience. Future or acting company officers, as well as existing company officers preferably within one to two years of experience.
Focus. Direct leadership: work procedures, standards, group cohesion norms, individual motivation, and individual/small-group task-oriented perspectives and dynamics. Students reflect on junior leadership experience and apply LDI lessons to determine which methods fit them best.
Command (COLMP)
Audience. Future or acting command officers, as well as existing command officers within one to two years of experience—typically charged with leading and managing multiple companies or organizational initiatives.
Focus. Organizational leadership: leadership climate, organizational culture, policies, changes, systems, and processes.
2026 session
Applications for the 2026 session are closed. Contact us with questions, or check back for the next session.