Dr. Smith is a retired Chief Fire Officer with over twenty-five years of public safety experience, concentrating on emergency services and adult education. He serves as the IAFF Assistant to the General President and leads their Training, Education, and Grants Administration Division including the HazMat Training Department. Dr. Smith holds a master’s in public administration and a Doctorate of Curriculum Design from Appalachian State University. His research focuses on performance management, strategic planning, and public safety promotional assessments, and he speaks nationally on the subjects. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program. Dr. Smith’s recent appointments include Labor Representative to the Commission on Professional Credentialing Center for Public Safety Excellence and the Marist College Public Administration Advisory Board.
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STILLWATER, Okla. – Mark S. Pare, the Rhode Island Fire Academy director, received his IFSTA emeritus award during the 2023 IFSTAⓇ Summer Validation Conference, July 8, 2023.
Fire Department
Josh Stefancic, a full-time local government professional since 2001, has been the City Manager for the City of Safety Harbor since 2024. Prior to this, he served as the Fire Chief for the Safety Harbor since 2018. Josh is a graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program and has been part of the IFSTA® family since 2009. He has served on many IFSTA validation committees including: Fire Detection and Suppression Systems, Essentials of Fire Fighting, Pumping/Aerial Driver Operator, Company Officer, and Occupational Safety, Health & Wellness.
Orange County Fire Authority
With two decades of invaluable experience, Felicia Bryant is a dedicated member of the Orange County Fire Authority, currently serving as Assistant Chief Fire Marshal. She joined the OCFA in June 2025 after more than 20 years with the Oakland Fire Department. With the Oakland Fire Department she ascended in the ranks Firefighter, Driver Operator/Engineer, Public Information Officer, Lieutenant, and Assistant Fire Marshal.
A committed community leader, Felicia has served various community boards with membership to various professional organizations including the California Fire Chief Association and California Fire Prevention Officers. She previously chaired the Black Women in the Fire Service at the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters.
April 4, 2018
Mike Weller to be honored with the Award at the 30th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washington, DC, April 19, 2018
The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the International Fire Service Training Association at Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University (IFSTA/FPP/OSU) are pleased to announce that Mike Weller has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education. Mike Weller was the Public Education Officer for Hagerstown, Maryland Fire Department (retired).
- Press Release - August 5, 2016
Dr. David A. Greene
Deputy Chief
Colleton County (S.C.) Fire-Rescue
davig@ostatemail.okstate.eduThe International Fire Service Journal of Leadership and Management (IFSJLM), is pleased to announce that Dr. David A. Greene received the IFSJLM Annual Research Symposium OSU Student Presentation Prize. Dr. Greene was recognized in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the annual IFSJLM Research Symposium. During the opening session, Dr. David A. Greene received the Prize and presented a paper on the findings of his recent dissertation research.
- About the Award
Marvin L. AustinMarvin L. Austin joined the Homewood, Illinois, Fire Department in 1954 and served as their training officer for many years. He worked his way through the ranks of the department until his retirement as assistant chief in 1971. Chief Austin joined the Illinois Fire Service Institute in 1960 and taught at their fire college for more than 20 years. His courses included salvage, aerial ladders and elevated platforms, pump operations, apparatus tests, maintenance and specifications, and many more. He also served on the IFSI Advisory Committee.
- About the Award
John W. HoglundJohn W. Hoglund served as the director of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute for 22 years, from 1970-1992, and as Director Emeritus until his passing in 2020. Hoglund was a nationally renowned leader in the fields of firefighting education, fire prevention and public safety.
Paul Valentine, past Executive Board Vice Chair, was awarded the John W. Hoglund Award during the International Fire Service Training Association’s 88th Annual Validation Conference in July 2021.
Valentine was active with IFSTA for more than 15 years, beginning in 2001. During his tenure, he served as the vice chair of the executive board for several years. His contributions to IFSTA and the executive board are considerable. He co-authored several IFSTA manuals and served on many IFSTA validation committees. Valentine remained active in other fire service organizations throughout his time on the executive board.
Fire Service Affiliation
As the former senior career federal fire official, Dr. Denis Onieal was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the United States Fire Administration (USFA) — the annual training of over 140,000 first responders at and through the National Fire Academy; the National Fire Incident Reporting System, which documents and analyzes 28 million fire department emergency responses a year; the USFA’s fire prevention, public information and public education programs; and the 26 campus buildings and the grounds of the historic National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
An honorably discharged Army veteran, he joined the Jersey City Fire Department and rose through the ranks from firefighter to deputy chief, and then to acting chief, leading a uniformed force of 650 firefighters and officers. He spent his entire time "in the street" as a line fire officer.
Warrenton, VA (July 31, 2018) Essentials of Community Risk Reduction is a new, free, online course where fire fighters and officers can learn the basics of Community Risk Reduction that they can use on the job every day. This self-paced course, developed through a partnership between The Vision 20/20 Project and IFSTA ResourceOne, helps fire fighters gain a better understanding of the importance of Community Risk Reduction to the fire service and to the community.
The United States Fire Administration has released the updated edition of the Safety and Health Considerations for the Design of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Stations. The report was produced under a cooperative research agreement with IFSTA, who is headquartered at Fire Protection Publications at Oklahoma State University. The principal investigator/writer of the report was Robert Tutterow, of the F.I.E.R.O organization in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is also the retired Safety Officer from the Charlotte Fire Department. He is one of the foremost experts on this topic.
This report provides a large amount of information on all aspects of health and safety issues that should be considered when designing or retrofitting fire and EMS stations. It is based on the latest research in reducing the risk of occupational illnesses and injuries, including cancer.
