FEMA and U.S. Fire Administration Announce Outstanding Research Award Winners

Release Date: April 11, 2005

EMMITSBURG, MD. - Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R), and United States Fire Administrator R. David Paulison announced the four fire service executives receiving the National Fire Academy's (NFA) 2004 Annual Outstanding Research Awards. Over 600 Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) applied research papers were completed during 2004 and submitted. The Outstanding Research Award recognizes excellent applied research projects completed by EFOP students. This year, four research efforts were judged to be outstanding by their peers. The award winning papers will be presented at the 17th Executive Fire Officer Symposium on June 1-3, 2005, at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

"There is a need to grow and enhance the body of knowledge today's firefighters need in order to protect their communities," said Brown. "I join with Secretary Chertoff and USFA Administrator Paulison in congratulating these awardees, and recognize all of the contributions made by all of the students in FEMA's Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy. I'm proud of the work of the fine men and women who lead our Nation's first-response efforts and especially of these leaders who have committed themselves to advancing the contributions of the fire service."

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 4-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.

"These applied projects reinforce that our fire services are becoming more and more diverse in the services they provide to the public. Their research and recommendations undoubtedly will yield benefits for other communities in the months, and years to come," said Administrator Paulison. Paulison further offered that "within our Executive Fire Officer Program, USFA remains committed to the belief that critical thinking is the basis for defining and ultimately resolving the complex problems that confront the fire service. The papers are examples of how research can save lives and make our organizations more efficient."

The 2004 Outstanding Research Award recipients are:

Executive Development Course Awardee: Deborah A. Prouty, Assistant Chief, Los Angeles County Fire Department Los Angeles, CA

Leading Community Risk Reduction Course Awardee: Mark M. Brown, Superintendent, New South Wales Fire Brigades Sydney South, New South Wales Australia

Leading Community Risk Reduction Course Awardee: Jo-Ann Lorber, Fire Lieutenant, City of Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Department, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Executive Analysis of Fire Service Operations in Emergency Management Course Awardee: Elaine Fisher, Fire Lieutenant. Orange County Fire Rescue, Winter Park, FL

To obtain a copy of the four projects Executive Fire Officer Outstanding Applied Research Awards 2004, 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. You can also obtain a copy of the individual outstanding research projects from the U.S. Fire Administration's web site at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.