The Mississippi State Fire Academy (MSFA) is a bright spot in Mississippi where firefighters can receive the high quality training they need to protect lives and property. It was my pleasure to appoint Kelly Elliott as the Executive Director of the MSFA, effective July 1, 2023. Director Elliott has a tremendous career in the fire service and I expect great things from his leadership.
I am proud to see the MSFA continue to grow and improve year after year. In early 2023, we opened a new Fire Station, Dormitory and State Disaster Staging Area. The facility will allow us to offer more Emergency Medical Services (EMS) courses in addition to fire training. It will also serve as a staging area if there is a major disaster in the state.
We are proudly continuing our partnership with the Mississippi Fire Chiefs Association, the Mississippi Firefighters Association and Waldorf University-Mississippi Fire Service Career Development Program. Upon graduation from the State Fire Academy, firefighters now have the opportunity to apply cumulative courses toward a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Science Administration from Waldorf. Degrees are also available from Columbia Southern University and Purdue Global University. Firefighters may also transfer certain courses to be used for college credit hours through Meridian Community College’s (MCC) Emergency Service Degree Program. The program at MCC is open to any student enrolled in the college’s Fire Protection Technology associate degree program.
The work of dedicated firefighters and fire educators throughout the state is instrumental in preventing fire deaths in Mississippi. I am proud of the work being done at the MSFA to protect the public’s safety by providing training to first responders. I look forward to the coming year and wish all incoming students the best of luck.
