Research Project Awards
The Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, and the Olympic Gold Medal are recognized world wide assymbols of human excellence. These awards are bestowed on individuals in recognition ofachievements that have made significant contributions to society. When individuals arerecognized as outstanding, the entire culture benefits because our ability is pushed to the outerlimits of what is possible and imaginable. Based on this, the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program Outstanding Research Award was created.
A significant measure of the professionalism of any occupation is the quality and quantity of the research the discipline is based on. The Outstanding Research Award helps the National Fire Academy achieve its mission of increasing the professionalism of the fire service.
The faculty have selected these papers as examples of outstanding work; to recognize the authors, contribute to the fire service literature, and inspire others to achieve new heights of excellence.
Outstanding Research Award Abstracts for:
2007
- Identifying Requirements for Reporting Hazardous Materials Storage to Local Fire Departments
Carl Blanksvard, Fire Inspector, Rock Springs Fire Department, Rock Springs, Wyoming - Sink or Swim: Is St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue Doing All They Can to Prevent Drowning?
Steven Knight, Fire Lieutenant, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Department, St. Petersburg, Florida - The Damage Assessment Process in Cape Coral, Florida Following Hurricane Charley
David Kilbury, Battalion Commander, Cape Coral Fire & Rescue/EMS Department, Cape Coral, Florida - Examining the 72 Consecutive Hour Work Limit
Steven A. Zwirn, Battalion Chief, Park City Fire Service District, Park City, Utah
2006
- After Dark: Assessing Hydration and Glucose Levels during Late Night Operations
A. Lynn Schofield, Provo Fire and Rescue, Provo, Utah - Safety Culture Within the Anne Arundel County Fire Department
Allen S. Williams, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Incident Activity Information Reporting for Cost Recovery Purposes
Deborah A. Prouty, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles, California - High Reliability Organization Theory and the San Bernardino City CA Fire Department
James M. Fratus, San Bernardino City Fire Department, San Bernardino, California - Evaluating Instructional Efficiency in a National Response Plan Training Course
Kevin O. Milan, Golden Fire Department, Golden, Colorado
2005
- Evaluating the Amarillo Department Mayday Guidelines
Marcus G. Lusk, District Chief, City of Amarillo Fire Department, Amarillo, Texas - Identifying Alternative Approaches To Fire and Hazard Protection at Procter & Gamble
Ray A. Webber, Fire Chief, The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio - Evaluation of Electronic Student Response Technology in an Introductory National Incident Management System Training Course
Kevin O. Milan, Division Chief, City of Golden Fire Department, Golden, Colorado - The Effectiveness of Fire Safety Training for Employees in Commercial Premises
Mark Brown, Superintendent, New South Wales Fire Brigades, Sydney New South Wales, Australia
2004
- Assessing the Impact of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Management Development Program
Deborah A. Prouty, Assistant Chief, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles, CA - Stakeholder Views in Relation to the Introduction of Residential Sprinkler Legislation in New South Wales, Australia
Mark M. Brown, Superintendent, New South Wales Fire Brigades Sydney South, New South Wales, Australia - Drowning...The Silent Killer of Children: Should the Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Department Take a Proactive Approach in the Development of a Preventive Program?
Jo-Ann Lorber, Fire Lieutenant, City of Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Department, Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Research Based Guidelines for Decision Making in Hurricane Conditions: When Do We Stop Responding?
Elaine Fisher, Fire Lieutenant. Orange County Fire Rescue, Winter Park, FL
2003
- Evacuation and Shelter Instructions for Residents of Large Apartment Buildings for the Executive Development Course
D. John Garino, Battalion Chief, Wayne Township Fire Department, Indianapolis, Ind. - Identifying and Addressing Sick Leave Use Trends for the Tulsa Fire Department for the Executive Leadership Course
David A. Hayes, Deputy Chief, City of Tulsa Fire Department, Tulsa, Okla. - Expansion of the Incident Command System in a 'Mayday Situation for the Executive Analysis of Fire Service Operations in Emergency Management Course
Shane Ray, Fire Chief, Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department, Brentwood, Tenn. - Fire and Life Safety Education for the Elderly
Andrew G. Smerz, Deputy Chief, City of Milwaukee Fire Department, Milwaukee, Wisc.
2002
- Residential Fire Alarm Systems: The Verification and Response Dilemma
Peter J. Finley, Jr., Deputy Fire Chief, Vineland Fire Department, Vineland, New Jersey - Evaluating the Results of a Modified Bunker Gear Policy
David Mager, Deputy Fire Chief, Boston Fire Department, Boston, Massachusetts - Learning Organizations and Leadership Style
Cecil V. Martinette Jr., Fire Chief, Lynchburg Fire and EMS Department, Lynchburg, Virginia - Evaluation Compliance with NFPA 1710
Vincent J. Werner, Battalion Chief, Garland Fire Department, Garland, Texas
2001
- Distress Alert Signals From Personal Alert Safety Systems Devices Do Not Trigger Physiological Responses
BY: Donald R. Adams, Sr., Fire Chief, of the Osceola County Emergency Services Department, Kissimmee, Florida - Arousals And/Or Wake Patterns Associated With Pheromones Administered In The Ambient Environment During Sleep
BY: Joseph L. Lynch, III, Executive Assistant, of the Center Point Fire District, Birmingham, Alabama - Gender Issues and Fire Stations Facilities
BY: Francis J. McElroy, Fire Chief, of the St. Johns County Department of Emergency Services, St. Augustine, Florida - Public Safety Departments: A Second Evaluation Of The Consolidation Of The City of Mercer Island's Department Of Public Safety
BY: Christian D. Tubbs, Battalion Chief, of the Mercer Island Fire Division, Mercer Island, Washington - A Quality Control Program For The Office Of The Illinois State Fire Marshal
BY: Kenneth E. Wood, Fire Protection Engineer, of the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, Chicago, Illinois
2000
- Protective Ensembles for Firefighting Challenge the Balance and Stability of Firefighters
BY: Donald R. Adams, Sr., Fire Chief, King's Point Volunteer Fire Department, Osceola County, Florida - Firefighters' Attitudes Toward Fire Prevention Activities
BY: Marilyn Arnlund, Fire Marshal, Maple Grove Fire Prevention Bureau, Maple Grove, Minnesota - Value Statements: A Bedrock Foundation for an Organizational Constitution
BY: Carl Ray Austerman, Battalion Chief, Glendale Fire Department, Glendale, Arizona - The Incident Command System: A 25-Year Evaluation by California Practitioners
BY: Dana Cole, Assistant Chief, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, St. Helena, California - Identifying the Core Values of the City of Markham Fire Department
BY: H. Michael Drumm, Fire Chief, City of Markham Fire Department, Markham, Illinois - Identifying and Evaluating Training Criteria for the Development of a Company Officer Training Program
BY: David Ott, Division Chief, Coronado Fire Department, Coronado, California
1999
- Improving Fire Apparatus Life Span Projections in the Norfolk Department of Fire and Paramedical Services
BY: Edward L. Senter, Jr., Battalion Chief, Norfolk Fire and Paramedical Services, Norfolk, Virginia - Addressing a Problem of Employee Morale
BY: Everett K. Ward, Jr., Fire Chief, Wrightsville Beach Fire Department, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina - Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Fire Prevention Enforcement by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal
BY: Kenneth E. Wood, Fire Protection Engineer, Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, Chicago, Illinois
1998
- Evaluation of Fire Apparatus Design Changes in the Norfolk Department of Fire and Paramedical Services
BY: Edward L. Senter, Jr., Battalion Chief, Norfolk Fire and Paramedical Services, Norfolk, Virginia - Compressed Air Foam Systems in Limited Staffing Conditions
BY: Robert G. Taylor, Captain, Morristown Fire Bureau, Morristown, New Jersey - The Effects of Oxygen Enriched Air on Firefighter Job Performance
BY: Bernard E. Williams, PhD, Deputy Chief, Edmonton Emergency Response Department, Alberta, Canada - The Fire Experience in Home Day Care Occupancies
BY: Kenneth E. Wood, Fire Protection Engineer, Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, Chicago, Illinois
1997
- Fire Service Planning in Montgomery County to Manage the Consequences of Terrorism Involving Chemical Warfare Agents
BY: Theodore Lee Jarboe, Deputy Chief, Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Montgomery County, Maryland - Nocturnal Olfactory Response to Smoke Odor
BY: J.L. Lynch, Fire Chief, Irondale Fire and Rescue Service, Irondale, Alabama - New Medical/Physical Standards for Frederick County Firefighters
BY: Andrew D. Marsh, Director, Frederick County Department of Fire/Rescue Services, Frederick, Maryland - Initiating a Marketing Planning Process in the Norfolk Department of Fire and Paramedical Services
BY: Edward L. Senter, Jr., Battalion Chief, Norfolk Fire and Paramedical Services, Norfolk, Virginia - Aides for Command Level Officers
BY: J. Curtis Varone, Battalion Chief, Providence Fire Department, Providence, Rhode Island
1996
- Problems and Success Factors Inherent in Fire Service Retirement
BY: Gearld Bates, Battalion Chief, Tucson Fire Department, Tucson, Arizona - Fireground Radio Communications and Firefighter Safety
BY: J. Curtis Varone, Providence Fire Department, Providence, Rhode Island
1995
- Evaluation of a Mitigation Procedure for Small Liquid Oxygen(LOX)Spills
BY: Craig H. Kampmier, Swansea Fire Department, Swansea, Massachusetts - A Marketing Strategy for Wildland Fuel Reduction in Palm Coast, Florida
BY: Mike Kuypers, District Manager, Florida Division of Forestry, Bunnell, Florida - Providence Fire Department Staffing Study Revisited
BY: J. Curtis Varone, Providence Fire Department, Providence, Rhode Island - Development of a Strategy for Conflict Management During Fire/EMS Department Amalgamation
BY: Bernard E. Williams, Ph.D., Deputy Chief, Edmonton Emergency Response Department - A Study of Standby Water Fees/User Fees for Fire
BY: Thomas R. Wood, Division Commander, Boca Raton Fire-Rescue ServicesDepartment, Boca Raton, Florida
1994
- Structure Triage During Wildland/Urban Interface/IntermixFires
BY: Keith Brown, Lake Dillon Fire Authority, Silverthorne, Colorado - Cognitive Development Considerations in Preschool Fire SafetyEducation
BY: Steven Dalbey, Fire Chief, Muscatine, Iowa - Defining the Organizational Culture of the Fairborn FireDepartment
BY: T. David Harlow, Battalion Chief, Fairborn Fire Department, Fairborn, Ohio - Providence Fire Department Staffing Study
BY: J. Curtis Varone, Providence Fire Department, Providence, Rhode Island
Last Reviewed: February 19, 2008
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