Four fire service executives will receive the U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Academy's 2007 Annual Outstanding Research Awards. This award recognizes Executive Fire Officer Program students for their research projects.

“Our Executive Fire Officer Program is designed to result in action learning and result in tangible, real outcomes for the communities that our EFOP participants represent,” said Fire Administrator Greg Cade. “The applied research projects not only will assist the communities represented by their EFOP officers, but respond to the complex problems that confront all fire and emergency services organizations across the United States.”

The EFOP is designed to provide senior fire officers with a broad perspective on various and challenging facets of fire administration. During four years, 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 six months after the completion of each of the four course areas.

“As a graduate of the program I know how challenging these projects are, but yet how important they can be," Cade said. "The diversity of topics chosen this year for the Outstanding Research Awards affirms the range of issues that our senior executives must deal with. I sincerely congratulate them for their excellence.”

The 2007 Outstanding Research Award recipients are:

• Executive Development Course: Carl Blanksvard, fire inspector for Rock Springs (Wyo.) Fire Department, "Identifying Requirements for Reporting Hazardous Materials Storage to Local Fire Departments."
• Leading Community Risk Reduction Course: Steven Knight, lieutenant for St. Petersburg Fire Rescue (Fla.) Department, "Sink or Swim: Is St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue Doing All They Can to Prevent Drowning?"
• Executive Analysis of Fire Service Operations in Emergency Management Course: David Kilbury, battalion commander for Cape Coral Fire & Rescue/EMS (Fla.) Department, "The Damage Assessment Process in Cape Coral, Florida following Hurricane Charley."
• Executive Leadership Course: Steven A. Zwirn, battalion chief for Park City (Utah) Fire Service District, "Examining the 72 Consecutive Hour Work Limit."

The award winning projects will be presented at the 20th Executive Fire Officer Symposium on March 28-30 at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Md. To obtain a copy of the five projects, contact the U.S. Fire Administration, Executive Fire Officer Program, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, Md., 21727; or call (800) 238-3358, extension 1639, and leave your request on voice mail. You can also obtain a copy of the individual outstanding research projects from the U.S. Fire Administration's web site www.usfa.fema.gov