1996
Chief Stephen Paulsell
Boone County (Mo.) Fire Protection Dist.

Chief John Buckman
German Township (Ind.) Fire Department

1997
Chief Cliff Jones
Tempe (Ariz.) Fire Department

Chief Robert Bettenhausen
Tinley Park (Ill.) Fire Department

1998
Chief Neil Svetanics (Ret.)
St. Louis (Mo.) Fire Department

Chief Phil Stittleburg
La Farge (Wis.) Fire Department

1999
Chief Jack Krakeel
Fayetteville Co. Dept. of Fire/EMS

Chief Fred Allinson
North Highline (Wash.) Fire District

2000
Chief Bill Peterson
Plano (Texas) Fire Department

Chief Fred Windisch
Ponderosa Volunteer Fire Department, Houston

2001
Chief Bruce Varner
Carrollton (Texas) Fire Department

Chief William Jenaway
King of Prussia (Pa.) Volunteer Fire Company

2002
Chief Jay Reardon
Northbrook (Ill.) Fire Dept.

Chief Tim Holman
German Township (Ohio) Fire & EMS

2003
Chief Mary Beth Michos
Prince William County (Md.) Fire & Rescue

Philip Sayer
Galt (Mo.) Fire Protection District

2004
Chief Edward Plaugher (ret.)
Arlington County (Va.) Fire Department

Chief Rick Haase
Staunton (Ill.) Fire Department and Conoco Philips Oil Refinery

2005
Chief Richard "Smokey" Dyer
Kansas City (Mo.) Fire Department

Chief Shane Ray
Pleasant View (Tenn.) Volunteer Fire Department

2006
Chief Alan Brunacini
Phoenix Fire Department

Chief Tom Kuntz
Red Lodge (Mont.) Fire Department

2007
Regional Fire Chief Russell Tarver
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Japan

Chief Michael Varney
Ellington (Conn.) Fire Department