Please join us in congratulating Richard M. Kesler, Ph.D., who was presented with the Early Career Fire Service Research Scholar Award. This award is presented by the IFSTA Executive Board at the 2026 IFSTA Validation Summer Conference on July 18th, 2026.
Richard Kesler is a Research Engineer with UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). His research has focused on biomechanics, health and the physical performance of firefighters. Specifically, he has examined the physiological demands of firefighting, studied the impact of personal protective equipment on the firefighter, and worked to characterize the thermal and chemical properties of the fireground. He served as a member of the Savoy (IL) Fire Department for more than 10 years at ranks up to Assistant Chief. Richard holds a PhD in kinesiology and MS and BS degrees in bioengineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
