Blended Learning Combining Online and Residency Program

Complete 240 hours online over 12 weeks
Complete 80 hours (2 weeks) residency

COMMAND AND STAFF LEADERSHIP (ACE1)

COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE

The demands placed on first responder leaders have never been greater than they are today.  Throughout the industry, leaders are promoted earlier and with less experience than they were, just a few years ago.  The roles and responsibilities have not changed, in fact, for many theirs have expanded to a point where they are being stretched more and more.  Additionally, many agencies are challenged by budget shortfalls and staffing issues, making it difficult to properly address leadership development.  The Command & Staff Program has been specifically designed by the National Command and Staff College to address these challenges and serves as part of the vanguard of today’s professional first responder leaders.   

Command and Staff is a blended (320 hours – 240 online, 80 hours residency with capstone research papers) program that is American Council on Education (ACE) certified and is eligible for six (6) hours of graduate level college transfer.  Since 2018, over 425 first responder leaders from throughout the United States have graduated from the Command and Staff Program.

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to prepare for an inspired agency command; build self-awareness and understand tendencies; develop a personal philosophy of command; understand the value of a peer network; align resources with strategy, mission, vision and values of the agency; assess and improve command climate and agency culture; value taking calculated risks and learning from mistakes, and value critical thinking and values in decision making.

The Command and Staff program aims to improve leadership capability by creating more aware leaders, who in turn make intentionally deeper investments in the human domain, while aligning both mission and values.  Graduates will be leaders and mentors for their people, dedicated to personal and professional growth, committed to promoting open communication and shared values, and focused on mission accomplishment.  

Command and Staff students learn practical skills and tools necessary to succeed in an ever-changing dynamic environment.  The class focuses on effectively resolving the challenges of an accomplished career.  Upon completing the course, participants will:

  1. Develop self-awareness and an understanding of personal tendencies to enhance leadership effectiveness and prepare for an inspired agency command.

  2. Formulate a personal philosophy of command grounded in leadership principles, ethics, and values to guide decision-making and behavior as a leader within the agency.

  3. Recognize the importance of building and leveraging a peer network for support, collaboration, and knowledge sharing in advancing agency objectives and overcoming challenges.

  4. Align agency resources with strategic objectives, mission, vision, and values to optimize performance, enhance organizational effectiveness, and achieve desired outcomes.

  5. Evaluate and enhance command climate and agency culture to foster a positive and inclusive work environment conducive to innovation, collaboration, and high performance.

The long-term goal of the program is to add to the leadership skill sets of each participant, and to also contribute to the body of knowledge of law enforcement through the completion of significant foresight-based research.  Graduates of the program will leave with new colleagues, a diverse array of faculty from which the student can continue to consult, and ways to act ahead of change to create an optimistic future for law enforcement and the communities they serve.

  • Leadership and Command Staff Program (LCS-IAPS)

    Credit Type:  Graduate Level – 6 Hrs. Graduate level College Transfer

    Tuition:   $4,950

    Length:  Hybrid. 320 hours (240 hrs. on-line & 80 hrs. classroom)

    • On-line portion is offered over 12 weeks

    • Residency portion is offered over 2 weeks

    ACE Course Number:  0001 – National Registry 

    FLYER

    Objective:  The course objective is to improve leadership capability by creating more aware leaders, including intentionally deeper investments in the human domain and aligning mission and values. Graduates will be leaders and mentors for their people, dedicated to personal and professional growth, committed to promoting open communication, shared values, and focused on mission accomplishment.

    Learning Outcome:  Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to prepare for an inspired agency command; build self-awareness and understand tendencies; develop a personal philosophy of command; understand the value of a peer network; align resources with strategy, mission, vision and values of the agency; assess and improve command climate and agency culture; value taking calculated risks and learning from mistakes, and value critical thinking and values in decision making.

    Instruction:  The methods of instruction include audiovisual, case studies, discussion, computer-based training, practical exercises, learner presentations, lecture, and classroom exercises. The general course topics include personal leadership; approaches to leadership; leadership and ethics; taking responsibility; communication and change; strategic elements of building a professional culture; versatility skills; human factors and leadership; leadership styles; progressive law enforcement leader effectively managing departmental risks; the organizational change battle plan; mastering communication; budgeting; personnel management; human factors and officer wellness; retention & recruitment; crisis communication.

    Assessments:  The methods of assessment include case studies, written papers and essays, performance rubrics, examination, and presentations with a minimum passing score of 80 percent.

    ACE College Credit Recommendation:  In the graduate degree category, 6 semester hours in sociology, leadership, or organizational behavior (10/19).  ACE Member Universities 

  • The long-term goal of the program is to add to the leadership skill sets of each participant; it is also to contribute to the body of knowledge of law enforcement through the completion of significant foresight-based research.

    • Leadership principles required to inspire and influence the future direction of the agency.

    • Strategies and tactics to identify emerging issues and provide a proactive response to deliver results with confidence.

    • Advanced hand-on tools, skills and knowledge necessary to anticipate and prepare for the future success.

    • Fundamental and necessary working methods and benefits of sharing information.

    • Use of teams and stakeholders in problem solving for better outcomes.

    The core focus on the topic* selected for capstone will be one that can be approached in one of two ways:

    • The student can select a significant issue affecting law enforcement and their communities today which are having a significant impact, and for which there are no easy answers. These issues are commonly referred to as “wicked problems” and can range from something affecting one’s own agency, the state or region of that agency, or the larger profession. The focus of the research would then be to clearly define not only the symptoms and problems associated with the issue, but its underlying causes. Using that data, foresight tools and concepts will be used to identify emerging issues (technologies, social movements, political action, etc.) that may affect that issue.

    • The second approach would be to identify a significant emerging issue of relevance to the future of law enforcement. The scope of the research can be how an issue might affect a function in policing, an agency size or type, or a specific issue the agency will encounter as a result of the emerging issue’s impact. This research would start from the “outside-in” and scan the horizon for what may be next, rather than focusing on what is already here, and then devising strategies to mitigate adverse outcomes

    The students in programs with capstone will select a topic for research and then learn the tools and concepts they will use to complete the Futures Portfolio.

    The course graduates will receive a National Command & Staff College diploma and a MAGNUS CENTURION Neck or Chest Green color Ribbon Medallion.

    With this, the graduates become a member of the MAGNUS CENTURION Network for enhanced networking and future re-training and development.

  • * Varies from Session to Session

    • Adaptive Decision-Making

    • Authentic Leadership

    • Budget Development & Finance

    • Cognition and Attribution Theory

    • Cognitive Evaluation Theory of Motivation

    • Communication and Counseling Skills

    • Community Relationships

    • Conflict Management

    • Corrections Trends and Issues

    • Credible Leadership

    • Decision Making in Groups

    • Deliberate Leadership

    • Emerging Technologies and Policing in the 21st Century

    • Equity Theory of Motivation

    • Executive Leadership

    • Expectancy Theory of Motivation

    • Goal Setting

    • Human Resources

    • Implicit Bias & Cultural Alignment

    • Intelligence-led Policing Program, A Primer

    • Inter-group Conflict Management

    • Law Enforcement Futures and Foresight

    • Leader Member Exchange Theory

    • Leadership Philosophy Development

    • Leadership Theories

    • Legacy leadership

    • Motivation Through Job Redesign

    • Negotiations & Dispute Resolutions

    • Organizational Culture

    • Organizational Environment

    • Overcoming Resistance to Change

    • Path Goal Theory

    • Personality, Intelligence and Leadership Effectiveness

    • Personnel Management

    • Power and Influence

    • Situational Leadership Theories

    • Strategic Development

    • Stress Management and Resiliency

    • The Ethical Dimension of Leadership

    • The Organization as an Open System

    • The Psychology of Intelligence Analysis

    • Wellness & Resiliency

    • Much More …

  • We are committed to providing you with the tools necessary to achieve your professional goals and we understand that communicating your educational and developmental credentials through the National Command and Staff College and the National Tactical Officers Association in an ever-expanding online marketplace can be challenging. That is why we have partnered with the American Council on Education and the Credly’s platform to provide you with a digital version of your educational credentials to universities and employers.

    The Command and Staff Certification Badge is provided to the following graduates.

    • The Graduates of the Command & Staff Leadership Program of the National Command and Staff College.

    • The Graduates of the NTOA Command College program which included the Command and Staff Program as it’s core learning component for the Tactical, Operational, and Strategic Leadership course work.

    The badge includes ACE College Transfer Credit Recommendation for graduate degree category, 6 semester hours in sociology, leadership, or organizational behavior. Share with universities for college transfer recommendation, employers, friends, and social media.

    What Is A Badge?

    Digital badges are dynamic, 21st century credentials that tell your whole certification and education story.  Digital badges allow employers and universities to easily see the full picture of your accomplishments, including verifiable skills and achievements, they’re becoming the new standard in training and certification.

    They are like a “Pin” or a “Badge” you wear on your uniform representing your achievements.

    The digital badge contains verified metadata that describes your qualifications and the process required to earn them as reviewed and approved by the American Council on Education. The badge can be used to request official transcripts to universities and/or employers.

    The badge can also be used in email signatures or digital resumes, and on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

REQUEST YOUR BADGE

The Command & Staff Certification Badge is provided to the following graduates:

  • The Graduates of the Command & Staff Leadership Program of the National Command and Staff College.

  • The Graduates of the NTOA Command College.