USFA Announces 2011 Outstanding Research Award Winners & Roll of Honor Inductee

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The U.S. Fire Administration announced today a select group of fire service executives who will either receive the National Fire Academy's (NFA) 2011 Annual Outstanding Research Award or be inducted to its Roll of Honor. The Outstanding Research Award recognizes Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) students for their research projects. The Roll of Honor induction recognizes that the inductee completed four 4.0 Applied Research Projects over the four year EFOP. The award winners will present and defend their projects during the 24th Annual Executive Fire Officer Symposium on May 4-6, 2012, at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

On the announcement of the 2011 Awards, U.S. Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell commented, "More than ever we need scientific and empirically based studies with results to provide potential direction and action for remedying the very difficult problems confronting fire and emergency services within communities in the United States. These fire service executives and the work they have completed represent the best of the best, and all of us at the U.S. Fire Administration are very proud of their accomplishments. The Applied Research Projects selected this year represent the diverse and wide range of challenges we face in the fire service. We celebrate all of the recipients for their creativity and dedication."

Also being recognized this year will be Deputy Fire Chief Daniel N. Olson of Kitsap County Fire District 18 in Poulsbo, Washington. Deputy Chief Olson will be inducted into the Executive Fire Officer Program Applied Research Roll of Honor for his attainment of completing all four of his Applied Research Projects at a 4.0 level. Olson will be only the eighth individual to attain this honor in the history of the EFOP, which now has over 3,070 graduates.

The Executive Fire Officer Program is designed to provide senior fire officers with a broad perspective on various and challenging facets of fire administration. Over a four-year period, the officers continue their professional development in four courses at the Academy, which are recommended for either graduate-level or upper division baccalaureate credit equivalency by the American Council on Education. Participants in the program are required to complete an applied research project in their organization which attempts to resolve a problem or solution through the conduct of original research within six months after the completion of each of the four course areas.

The 2011 Outstanding Research Award recipients are:

Executive Development Course Awardee

Scott Somers, Administrator, City of Mesa Fire Department, Mesa Arizona Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Feasibility Study for the Mesa Fire Department (PDF, 6.5 Mb)

Executive Analysis of Community Risk Reduction Course Awardee

Brian Ashton, Captain, City of Boise Fire Department, Boise Idaho The Fire Risks of a Corn Field Maze (PDF, 1.1 Mb)

Executive Analysis of Community Risk Reduction Course Awardee

Steven T. Wright, Deputy Fire Chief, South Kitsap Fire and Rescue Department, Port Orchard Washington Aligning South Kitsap Fire and Rescue School Fire Safety Education Program with Community Risks (PDF, 860 Kb)

Executive Analysis of Fire Service Operations in Emergency Management Course Awardee

Stephen Abbott, Battalion Chief, North County Fire Protection District, Fallbrook California Assessing the Effects of Energy Beverages Upon Firefighter Health and Safety (PDF, 317 Kb)

To obtain a copy of the four 2011 Executive Fire Officer Outstanding Applied Research award winning projects, contact the U.S. Fire Administration, Executive Fire Officer Program, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, Maryland, 21727; or call (800) 238-3358, extension 1639, and leave your request on voice mail.