The Commission on Fire Accreditation International Inc. accredited 13 fire departments, conferred its prestigious Chief Fire Officer designation to 134 fire officers and awarded its highest annual award for individual leadership excellence to Chief Ronny J. Coleman (Ret.) at its annual awards ceremony at Fire-Rescue International.

Calling Coleman “America's Fire Chief,” Chief Randy R. Bruegman, Fresno (Calif.) Fire Department, presented the annual Ray Picard Award to Coleman, saying that were it not for the “leadership, vision and tenacity” Coleman brought to the organization “we would not be standing here tonight.” Coleman served as the CFAI's first board chairman until his term expired in 2003. He now serves as chairman emeritus of the CFAI Board of Trustees.

Thirteen fire departments completed CFAI's accreditation process, bringing the number of CFAI-accredited departments worldwide to 96. To receive accreditation, each fire department underwent intensive self-evaluation, developed a comprehensive strategic plan and standard of cover, conducted a detailed risk analysis of their community, and passed an exhaustive review by their peers.

The newly accredited departments and their chiefs are:

• Bradenton (Fla.) Fire Deparment, Chief Mark Souders.
• Chandler (Ariz.) Fire Department, Chief Jim Roxburg.
• Clay Fire Territory, Southbend, Ind., Chief Tim Schabbel.
• Fishers (Ind.) Fire Department, Chief Brian Lott.
• Glencoe (Ind.) Department of Public Safety, Chief Mike Milks.
• Hartford (Conn.) Emergency Services, Chief John Wood.
• Henderson (Nev.) Fire Dept., Chief Jim Cavalieri.
• Jacksonville (Fla.) Fire Dept., Acting Chief Randy Hall.
• Kent (Wash.) Fire Department, Chief James Schneider.
• Largo (Fla.) Fire Rescue, Chief E. Carroll Williams.
• Miami Beach (Fla.) Fire Dept., Chief Floyd Jordon.
• Nashville (Tenn.) Fire Department, Chief Stephen Halford.
• Union Township Fire Department, Cincinnati, Chief Stan Deimling.

CFAI's Commission on Fire Officer Designation awards the CFO designation based on rigorous criteria. Only 427 fire officers worldwide have received this designation. For more information, visit www.cfainet.org.