The International Association of Fire Chiefs has formed the International Fire Service Research Center and Policy Institute. The Institute was born out of a National Policy Center task force, originally conceived in 2002.

The institute was established to build the capacity and adaptability of fire rescue organizations. In addition, it will collaborate with other research institutions from around the world to facilitate, coordinate, conduct and disseminate research projects and findings. It is anticipated that the results of the institute's work will be used to support the development of public policy decisions affecting the leadership, management and operations of fire rescue services.

“The Institute was created to fill an international need for quality, unbiased research as a component of effective public policy,” said IAFC President Chief Jim Harmes. “It was established by the IAFC because of the importance of the fire rescue services, the amount of resources used in the delivery of these services and the concern over the high rates of civilian and firefighter deaths in the United States.”

An international board of directors will manage the policy and direction for the new institute. They also will provide direct and indirect financial support for the organization. In May, during the institute's inaugural meeting, the following slate of officers was elected:

• President: Ernie Mitchell, director, National Firefighter Technology Resource Center, president of the IAFC (2003-2004) and former fire chief, Pasadena (Calif.) Fire Department
• Secretary: Bruce Moeller, fire chief, Sunrise (Fla.) Fire-Rescue
• Treasurer: Bill Metcalf, fire chief, North County Fire Protection District, Fallbrook, Calif.

• Roger Bradley, fire chief, Hanover (N.H.) Fire Department
• Garry Briese, vice president, Emergency Management & Homeland Security, ICF International and former IAFC executive director
• Rich Carrizzo, fire chief, Southern Platte (Mo.) Fire Protection District
• Dennis Davis, independent fire-service consultant working with a range of international clients, formerly the chief fire officer in Cheshire and HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland
• Amy Donahue, head of the Department of Public Policy, University of Connecticut
• Bill Killen, former fire chief and president of the IAFC (2005-2006)
• Tom Looney, industry director for Justice and Public Safety, Microsoft Corporation
• Bill Metcalf, fire chief, North County Fire Protection District, Fallbrook, Calif.
• Jim Milke, associate professor and associate chair, Department of Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland
• Ernie Mitchell, director, National Firefighter Technology Resource Center, president of the IAFC (2003-2004) and former fire chief, Pasadena (Calif.) Fire Department
• Bruce Moeller, fire chief, Sunrise (Fla.) Fire-Rescue
• Tim Riley, former fire chief, Newport Beach (Calif.) Fire Department
• Julian Taliaferro, city council member and former fire chief, Charlottesville, Va.
• Tom Von Essen, senior vice president, Giuliani Partners, chief executive officer, Giuliani-Von Essen LLC, former New York City fire commissioner

“I believe the International Fire Service Research and Policy Institute is an idea whose time has come and that in 10 years, it will be viewed as an essential and trusted source of fire service policy research and information readily available to all fire and emergency service agencies. Communities will be able to rely less upon local anecdotal evidence and more upon objective, legitimate, credible research led by The Institute in partnership with the entire first responder community,” said Institute President Chief Ernie Mitchell.

Former Littleton, Colo., Fire Chief Bill Pessemier has been named chief executive officer for the institute and will manage day-to-day operations. Pessemier has been on the IAFC national programs staff for the past three years and is working to complete a doctorate in public affairs at the University of Colorado at Denver.