Dr. R. Bryan Ormond, Ph.D., was presented the 2025 Dr. John Granito Award for Excellence in Fire Service Leadership and Management Research at the 2025 International Fire Service Journal of Leadership and Management Research Symposium held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on July 12, 2025. This award is presented to individuals who have significantly advanced fire leadership and management literature through their research efforts.
Dr. R. Bryan Ormond is an associate professor in the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry, and Science (TECS) at NC State University’s Wilson College of Textiles. He also has a joint appointment in the Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC) where he has conducted impactful research on personal protective clothing and occupational exposures since joining as a doctoral student in 2007. The Ormond Research Group has focused on developing test methods, standards, equipment, and ensembles to protect first responders and military personnel from chemical, particulate, and thermal hazards. The group’s recent research has centered on reducing firefighter exposure to toxic chemicals by developing and commercializing particulate-blocking PPE, assessing enhanced cleaning methods for firefighter turnout gear, evaluating on-scene decontamination methods, investigating trade-offs in exposure and performance with PFAS and non-PFAS finishes and materials, and assessing performance of respiratory protection for wildland firefighters. The Ormond research group aims to make connections between assessments made in the laboratory and the field by working in collaboration with firefighters across the state, the country, and the world.
