REPORT
The chief of staff in public safety
How the Chief of Staff Association and the University of Virginia are training public safety leaders through a new certification programme.
UVA Programme
The chief of staff in public safety:
Inside the CSA-UVA Certification Programme
‘As a former Chief of Staff for the Washington DC Metropolitan Police department, having a national network of fellow chiefs of staff is critical in today's environment.’ Marvin “Ben” Haiman, Executive Director, University of Virginia, Center for Public Safety and JusticeThe chief of staff role is documented and studied with increasing frequency by corporations and civil governments, including here at the Chief of Staff Association. Far less studied is the role within public safety—police departments, fire services and emergency response agencies—where the person holding the title operates under great pressure responding to daily crises. The ‘Chief of Staff Certification with Executive Coaching’ for public safety leaders, developed by the Chief of Staff Association (CSA), University of Virginia's Center for Public Safety and Justice (UVA), and National Association of Professional Staff in Public Safety (NAPSPS), is one of the first programmes built specifically to develop the skills and capabilities of second-seat leaders in this sector, and enhance their professional standing.The case for a second seat in public safety leadership
A chief of staff in any setting acts as the strategic right hand to a principal, managing priorities, coordinating stakeholders, and freeing the leader to focus on what matters most. In public safety, that work happens under high-pressure conditions few other sectors face. A chief of staff to a police chief or fire commissioner can find themselves simultaneously coordinating a crisis communications response, briefing elected officials and managing stretched resources, when crises are ongoing. Public trust and the public safety itself are what is at stake. All societies depend on public safety workers and leaders. Despite this, chiefs of staff across public safety services and departments, have no dedicated training ground of their own. Some have adapted corporate frameworks that are useful, but not optimised for, their environment. Others have learned the role's requirements entirely on the job. Created to bridge that gap, the programme gives public safety leaders a certification pathway, and a peer network, built around the realities of their industry.Inside the programme
The programme requires participants to complete ten asynchronous online modules covering the core competencies of the chief of staff role. In the weeks leading up to the residency, participants join six live discussion groups led by a certified executive coach with a strong understanding of the public safety sector and its unique challenges. The programme concludes with a four-day residency in Charlottesville, Virginia, bringing together panel discussions, guest speakers, networking, and peer review of individual capstone projects.The course material draws on analysis of more than 2,000 chiefs of staff across public, private and non-profit sectors, adapted for the specific demands of law enforcement, fire, corrections, emergency medical services, dispatch and related disciplines. Participants do not need to hold the formal title of chief of staff to attend, though most do. The only requirement is that they serve as the strategic adviser to their agency's principal.On completing the CSA’s core competency programme, participants earn the industry-recognised title of Certified Chief of Staff® and a certificate of completion from the University of Virginia's Center for Public Safety and Justice. The certification is designed to mark a demonstrated standard of skill and competence, giving public safety leaders and the agencies they serve a shared benchmark.A partnership built for credibility
The programme draws on the experience of three partners. The Center for Public Safety and Justice, housed within the University of Virginia's School of Continuing and Professional Studies, is a national hub for education and leadership development across public safety, home to the Master of Public Safety degree and the National Criminal Justice Command College. Alongside it sits the National Association of Professional Staff in Public Safety, a newly established association supporting civilian and professional staff leaders across the sector. Together with the Chief of Staff Association's network across more than 75 countries, this partnership brings participants into the fold of an academic institution, a sector-specific association and a global professional body, all built around one certification.Ben Haiman: building the case from experience
Ben Haiman, a former Chief of Staff at the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department and now executive director for public safety and justice at UVA, is one of the clearest voices for why a dedicated public safety cohort matters. As he puts it:‘The value of this partnership to public safety participants includes becoming a Certified Chief of Staff, but also participating in a unique cohort experience with other public safety professionals from around the country at the University of Virginia. In addition to the certification curricula, this unique cohort receives enhanced mentoring, a residency experience where participants dive into issues in today's public safety environments, and a capstone. As a former Chief of Staff for the Washington DC Metropolitan Police department, having a national network of fellow chiefs of staff is critical in today's environment.’
What participants say
In addition to the formal competencies studied, the participants rated highly the small-group discussions, question and answer sessions, breakout activities and panel discussions, as well as the chance to compare notes with other chiefs of staff facing the same pressures. The first cohort's feedback also signalled the need for ongoing professional development and a community of practice. One student summarised the experience simply:‘Thank you for an exceptional experience. I sincerely appreciate the time, expertise, and thought that went into this program. I leave with incredible connections, fresh perspectives, and a renewed sense of confidence to apply what I've learned within my agency. It was truly a worthwhile investment in leadership.’
Where this leaves the profession
The Public Safety Leaders Cohort is the first step in what the CSA, UVA and NAPSPS see as a larger project: building the same professional recognition for chiefs of staff in public safety that exists in other sectors. Adaptability, sound decision-making and the ability to hold a network together under pressure are not optional extras in this environment; they are the job. This programme gives that job a framework, a network, and a credential.The experience of the staff, speakers and steering committee, in concert with the contributions of the first three cohorts, are instrumental in driving this mission forward. For agencies and individuals considering the Public Safety Leaders Cohort, registration and further information is available directly through the University of Virginia.The chief of staff in public safety
UVA Programme
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