In today’s work environment, learning new skills is the key to advancing your career. The Fire Science program at Holy Family was exactly what I needed because it provided me with crucial skills in communication, critical thinking, decision making, and management. The curriculum perfectly complimented the technical expertise I gained during my associate’s degree program. Courses such as Major Incident Analysis featured guest speakers who were the commanders of major incidents like the Pier 34 collapse and the One Meridian Plaza fire. Learning from the people who are on the front lines every day was invaluable—it changed my life and my career.

I have benefited, not just from the knowledge of my professors at Holy Family, but also from their character. Their advice and encouragement instilled in me the want and determination to make a difference in my life. Each day, Holy Family professors model for their students the values of hard work, selflessness, and civility. These are life lessons that I put to work at the Philadelphia Fire Department Special Operations Command. They are values that I will carry always, making me a better man, a better civil servant, and a better citizen of the world.