The National Fire Protection Association appointed Maria Figueroa as regional manager to its newly created Fire Prevention Field Office. In her role, Figueroa will support fire prevention activities nationwide with a special focus on supporting NFPA’s work involving the adoption of residential sprinklers ordinances.

Figueroa has more than 25 years of fire-service experience and recently worked as a firefighter/paramedic with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department in Doral, Fla. There she served as a fire rescue captain, co-chair of the Miami-Dade Fire Prevention and Safety Appeals Board and as an officer in charge of the Code Compliance Bureau. She has served as a consultant in disaster management, business continuity and implementation of NFPA 1600.

In 1997, Florida named Figueroa as Public Fire Educator of the Year. She received an award for achievement from the National Association of Counties, a leadership award from the National Association of Hispanic Firefighters and an award for community service from the National Association of Hispanic Public Administrators.