U.S. Fire Administration Announces 2007 Outstanding Research Award Winners

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USFA Press Office: (301) 447-1853

EMMITSBURG, MD. – The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Fire Administration announced today the four fire service executives who will receive the National Fire Academy's (NFA) 2007 Annual Outstanding Research Awards. This award recognizes Executive Fire Officer Program students for their Applied Research Projects. The award winning projects will be presented at the 20th Executive Fire Officer Symposium on March 28-30, 2008, at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

“The Applied Research Projects not only will assist the communities represented by their EFOP officers, but respond to the complex problems that confront all fire and emergency services organizations across the United States.”

"Our Executive Fire Officer Program is designed to result in action learning and result in tangible, real outcomes for the communities that our EFOP participants represent" said Fire Administrator Greg Cade. "The Applied Research Projects not only will assist the communities represented by their EFOP officers, but respond to the complex problems that confront all fire and emergency services organizations across the United States."

The Executive Fire Officers 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 six months after the completion of each of the four course areas.

"As a graduate of the program I know how challenging these projects are, but yet how important they can be. The diversity of topics chosen this year for the Outstanding Research Awards affirms the range of issues that our senior executives must deal with. I sincerely congratulate them for their excellence."

The 2007 Outstanding Research Award recipients are:

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Executive Development Course Awardee: Carl Blanksvard, Fire Inspector, Rock Springs Fire Department, Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Paper: Identifying Requirements for Reporting Hazardous Materials Storage to Local Fire Departments (PDF, 145 Kb)
Leading Community Risk Reduction Course Awardee: Steven Knight, Fire Lieutenant, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Department, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Paper: Sink or Swim: Is St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue Doing All They Can to Prevent Drowning? (PDF, 3.0 Mb)
Executive Analysis of Fire Service Operations in Emergency Management Course Awardee: David Kilbury, Battalion Commander, Cape Coral Fire & Rescue/EMS Department, Cape Coral, Florida.
Paper: The Damage Assessment Process in Cape Coral, Florida following Hurricane Charley (PDF, 1.0 Mb)
Executive Leadership Course Awardee: Steven A. Zwirn, Battalion Chief, Park City Fire Service District, Park City, Utah.
Paper: Examining the 72 Consecutive Hour Work Limit (PDF, 170 Kb)

Copies of the award-winning projects may also be obtained by contacting 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.