Naperville (Ill.) Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis received the 2009 Ray Picard Award from Center for Public Safety Excellence. Picard and CPSE President Randy Bruegman presented the during last month’s Fire-Rescue International.

Puknaitis serves as president of the Illinois Fire Accreditation Managers and chairs the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association’s Accreditation Committee. He was the accreditation manager for the Oak Park (Ill.) Fire Department, where he previously served. At that time, about 10 years ago, Oak Park was only the 11^th department in the country and the second in Illinois to participate in the accreditation process.

Puknaitis did the research for the accreditation process and began to revamp the department’s standards of cover. A few other local departments’ accreditation managers met to discuss the process and eventually formed IFAM to help other Illinois departments with the process. Several years ago, Puknaitis approached the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and asked for their support to reach more Illinois fire departments on the value of accreditation process.

“My feeling is that the departments that are accredited are usually better than those that don’t consider the program. They don’t have the funding sources, apparatus is failing and are floundering to survive,” Puknaitis said. “Boards and councils are made up of attorneys and accountants looking for facts. If you can’t provide it, then you’re going to lose your part of the pie.”

The Ray Picard Award is designed to recognize the individual(s) who exemplify the ability, character, and dedication and leadership attributes Ray Picard provided in developing the self-assessment and accreditation processes for the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI.) This annual award recognizes individual superior leadership and outstanding contribution to the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and the accreditation of fire departments.