Alan Saulsbury, who has devoted much of his life to the fire service and the fire apparatus industry, was named the recipient of the 2006 Joe Fishelson Award.

The award will be formally presented during the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis later this month. It is given to individuals who make significant customer service contributions to the fire service through the fire protection industry. Eligibility includes manufacturers, representatives and distributors, as well as members of the fire media, associations, and other support or service groups.

Saulsbury is president of Fire Spec Services and was the former owner and president of Saulsbury Fire Apparatus. He is also a longtime member of the NFPA Technical Committee on Fire Apparatus, which is responsible for writing and updating the influential NFPA 1901, Automotive Fire Apparatus. Over the years, his work has defined the changing role of rescue vehicles and has helped make all apparatus safer and more efficient.

The award is named after Joe Fishelson, who was a pioneer fire equipment manufacturer and a strong supporter of customer service to fire departments.