EMMITSBURG, Md. -The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Fire Administration announced today a select group of six fire service executives who have been selected to receive the National Fire Academy's (NFA) 2012 Annual Outstanding Research Award. The Outstanding Research Award recognizes Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) students for the completion of research which has national applications for saving lives and property. Additionally, in recognition of the 25th anniversary of Applied Research as a significant element of the EFOP, USFA has announced eight "Legacy Award Winners" and four "Silver Anniversary Award recipients.

Also recognized this year is Fire Chief Cindy Dick of the City of Tallahassee Florida Fire Department. Chief Dick has been inducted into the Executive Fire Officer Program Applied Research Roll of Honor for attainment of completing all four of her Applied Research Projects at a 4.0 level. Chief Dick is only the ninth individual to attain this honor in the history of the EFOP which now has over 3,300 graduates.

On the announcement of the 2012 Awards, U.S. Fire Administrator Ernie Mitchell commented, "only one time before has the U.S. Fire Administration made this award to six recipients. Normally we present four Outstanding Research Awards, one for each year of the Executive Fire Officer Program. What we found this year regarding the candidate group that the awards were selected from, the 53 Applied Research Projects completed in 2012 which received a 4.0 score, were research efforts that clearly demonstrate creativity, excellence in research design, and results that clearly will save lives and reduce property loss in the United States in the years to come."

To celebrate and further recognize the progress that has resulted from thousands of Applied Research Projects having been completed within EFOP over 25 years, USFA asked the National Society of Executive Fire Officers (NSEFO) to select eight prior Outstanding Applied Research Award Winners completed during the prior 24 years. A committee from NSEFO returned eight names to USFA which represent the "25th Anniversary Applied Research Legacy Award Winners". A committee consisting of Dr. Shannon Frattaroli PhD, Associate Professor at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Dr. Mark H. Moore PhD, Professor at the Kennedy School of Government-Harvard University, and Dr. Dennis E. Wenger, PhD, Program Director at the National Science Foundation then selected four "Silver Anniversary Research Award Winners".

Chief Mitchell further stated that "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." Mitchell added, "USFA celebrates all of the award recipients for their creativity and dedication. And, I am particularly proud to congratulate Chief Cindy Dick for her excellent work and our Legacy and Silver Anniversary Award winners."

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 2012 Outstanding Research Award recipients are:

Executive Development Course Awardees:

David Cohen, Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal, Mountain Brook Fire Department, Mountain Brook Alabama. ARP Paper: "Children with autism and fire drills and fire alarms"

Lauren Johnson, Captain, City of Dallas Fire Rescue Department, Dallas Texas. ARP Paper: "It's in the numbers: Collecting injury and near-miss data can improve safety in the Dallas Fire Rescue Department"

Executive Analysis of Community Risk Reduction Course Awardee:

Scott Somers, Ph.D., Administrator, Mesa Fire and Medical Department, Mesa Arizona. ARP Paper: "Spatial cluster analysis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Mesa Arizona"

Executive Analysis of Fire Department Operations in Emergency Management Awardees:

Steven Brooker, Battalion Chief, Cal Fire Riverside Fire Department, Riverside California. ARP Paper: "Gate access time study for the Rancho Mirage Fire Department"

Christopher Watson, City of Austin Fire Department, Austin Texas. ARP Paper: "Using social media to communicate with the occupants of large residential buildings during fire emergencies"

Executive Leadership Course Awardee:

Michael Dell'Orfano, Assistant Chief, South Metro Fire Rescue Authority, Centennial Colorado. ARP Paper: "Residential fire sprinkler system mandates: Extent of citizen and firefighter resistance"

The eight "25th Anniversary Applied Research Legacy Award Winners" are Stephen Abbott, California, June 2011, Assessing the Effects of Energy Beverages Upon Firefighter Health and Safety; Brian Ashton, Idaho, 2011, The Fire Risks of a Corn Field Maze; Joseph Lynch, Alabama, June 1997, Nocturnal Olfactory Response to Smoke Odor; David Mager, Massachusetts, 2002, Evaluating the Results of a Modified Bunker Gear Policy; Cecil Martinette, Virginia 2002, Learning Organizations and Leadership Style; Vincent Werner, Texas, 2002, Evaluating Compliance with NFPA 1710; Dr. Bernard Williams, Canada, 1995, Development of a Strategy for Conflict Management During Fire/EMS Department Amalgamation; Kenneth Wood, Illinois, 2001, A Quality Control Program for the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.

The four "Silver Anniversary Research Award Winners" selected from the above group are Stephen Abbott (California, 2011), Brian Ashton (Idaho, 2011), Joseph Lynch (Alabama, 1997), and Ken Wood (Illinois, 2001).

To obtain a CD copy of the six 2012 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.

All of the research projects receiving awards and recognition can be reviewed and copies downloaded from the U.S. Fire Administration's website at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/nfa/efop/applied_research/awards.shtm