Chief Dennis Compton (Ret.) of the Mesa (Ariz.) Fire Department recently was selected by the Congressional Fire Services Institute Board of Directors as the recipient of the 2003 CFSI/Motorola Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award. The presentation took place at the 15th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on April 30 in Washington, D.C.

Active both nationally and at the state level, Compton serves on the executive board of the International Fire Service Training Association, as a board member of the NFPA and as immediate past chair of the CFSI National Advisory Committee. He retired last year after five years as chief of the department and after 32 years in the fire service. In recognition for his contributions in Arizona, he was selected as a charter member of the Arizona Fire Service Hall of Fame.