08/28/2026
Littleton Fire Rescue and the St. Johnsbury Fire Department recently came together to continue our joint Officer Development Program for company officers and Acting Duty Officers (ADOs).
The program recognizes the critical role these leaders play in our departments and brings together senior, junior, and developing officers to learn from one another, share experiences, and grow as leaders.
The program focuses on key areas including:
• Leadership foundations
• Incident command
• Mentorship and peer learning
• Interagency collaboration
• Administrative and management skills
Few people understand the challenges facing today’s fire service and the responsibilities placed on company officers better than those who have sat in the chief’s chair themselves.
Former Littleton Fire Chiefs Michael McQuillen and David Houghton joined us for a presentation and discussion on “Command Presence.” Officers and ADOs from both departments gathered at Schillings to share a meal and take part in a robust discussion about leading members, managing shifts, commanding incidents, and earning the confidence of the people you lead.
We are grateful to Chiefs McQuillen and Houghton for sharing their experience, perspective, and lessons learned over decades of fire service leadership.
Our partnership with St. Johnsbury continues to demonstrate that leadership development doesn’t have to stop at town or state lines. By training together, sharing experiences, and learning from one another, both departments are building stronger officers and stronger organizations.
A special thank you to Schilling Beer Co. for hosting our firefighters and generously donating the meal they shared. Their hospitality provided the perfect setting for good food, great conversation, and meaningful professional development.
