NFPA Celebrates Excellence in Fire and Life Safety at Stars at Awards Gala

At its Stars at Night awards ceremony on Sunday, June 21, as part of the NFPA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) honored exceptional achievements and leadership in fire, electrical, and life safety.

The following honors were presented during the evening ceremony (click on links for complete descriptions and photos):

• Committee Service Awards: Awarded to 10 individuals in recognition of and appreciation for their substantial, continuous voluntary service as a technical committee member.
• Special Achievement Award: Presented to Richard Dunn in recognition of his service as a committee chair for NFPA 1020, leading the establishment of new measurable standards for professional performance among EMS officers, and for his contributions to the broader professional qualifications improvement project.
• Fire Protection Research Foundation Medal: Awarded to the team behind the report, Environmental Impact of Lithium-Ion Battery Incidents Compared to Other Common Incidents, that examines the potential environmental risks associated with fires in lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS).
• Harry C. Bigglestone Award: For excellence in the communication of fire protection research presented to Rosaria Ono, Fulvio Vittorino, Walter Negrisolo, and Eveline Favero for their article, Understanding the Human Behavior in the Kiss Nightclub Fire: Analysis of a Survey with Survivors, which provides critical new insight into human behavior during emergency evacuations.  
• NFPA Community Risk Reduction Elevation Award: Awarded to the Allen Fire Department, in Allen, TX, for its leadership in community risk reduction (CRR) through its innovative “DRIVE to Thrive” traffic safety initiative, a data-driven, collaborative effort designed to reduce injuries from crashes and create a replicable model for prevention-based public safety.
• NFPA Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year Award: Presented to Elizabeth Willi of Palm Harbor Fire Rescue, in Florida, recognizing more than 20 years of leadership in fire and life safety education and her work building sustainable, community-driven education programs using NFPA public education materials.
• NFPA Electrical Inspector of the Year Award: Presented to Craig Thelen, from the state of Nebraska, in recognition of his distinguished career in electrical inspection and his steadfast commitment to advancing electrical safety and upholding the principles of the National Electrical Code® (NEC®).  
• NFPA Fire Marshal of the Year Award: Presented to Jared C. Nisch of the Lansing Fire Department (Michigan), for his exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to community risk reduction, creating a measurable and lasting impact on the city of Lansing.
• James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal: Awarded to Rob Feeney for his decades of advocacy as a burn survivor of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI, using his voice to champion fire sprinkler requirements, successfully influencing policy changes that have made venues safer, and helping prevent future tragedies.
• Standards Medal: Awarded to Daniel Madrzykowski, PhD, in recognition of a career defined by technical excellence, consensus-building, and decades of volunteer leadership in the NFPA standards development process.
• NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem Global Influencer Award: Presented to the College of Electrical, Mechanical, and Industrial Engineers (CIEMI) of Costa Rica for its leadership in uniting government, enforcement, and engineering community to build a strong, sustainable fire and life safety ecosystem through effective use of NFPA codes and standards.
• Paul C. Lamb Award: Awarded to Jim Pauley, NFPA president & CEO, whose 40-year career association with NFPA exemplifies the spirit of the Paul C. Lamb Award—NFPA’s highest honor—through his exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment to advancing safety, and transformative impact on the organization’s growth and global influence.

To learn more about each award and to download photos of the recipients, visit the NFPA awards page.