The Military Fire Fighter Heritage Foundation (MFHF) is pleased to announce that Chief Mark Giuliano of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, will receive the Foundation’s 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award.
The annual award recognizes individuals for outstanding professional achievements during their 20-year tenure with the Department of Defense (DOD), specifically major contributions to the Department of Defense (DOD) Fire Emergency Services, and community leadership and involvement.
Chief Giuliano began his firefighting career while still in high school in Rhode Island. He enlisted in the US Air Force immediately after graduation as a fire protection specialist. Over the course of his career, he has served on and led military fire departments in the United States and abroad. While serving as the Fire Chief at Misawa Air Base, Japan, the department received the Department of Defense (DOD) Fire Department of the Year Award – the DOD’s highest recognition – in 2000.
In 2016, Giuliano was named Chief of the Fire Emergency Services Flight, 96th Civil Engineer Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base on the Florida Panhandle. He was the incident commander following the 2015 crash of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter off the coast of the Florida Panhandle. The crash, which occurred late at night in thick sea fog conditions and choppy water, killed four Louisiana Air National Guardsmen and seven active-duty US Marines. The operation lasted 10 days and included 35 agencies and more than 400 personnel. It garnered national attention and praise from the White House, Pentagon and local government officials for the outstanding recovery efforts of all involved.
“Chief Giuliano is a highly-respected, knowledgeable and admired leader within the DoD Fire Emergency Services, and he exemplifies what so many of us aspire to,” said Mike Robertson, President of the MFHF. “We could not be more pleased to present this prestigious award to Mark.”
Giuliano has received numerous awards over his career, including Exceptional Civilian Service Award, the highest Air Force Civilian Award. Under his leadership, his departments have received Air Force Material Command, Fire Department of the Year on several occasions. In addition, Giuliano has also been selected as a 2018 Hall of Fame inductee.
The other 2018 Hall of Fame Inductees are: Chief Gelacio Rodriquez from Naval Station Great Lakes; Master Gunnery Sergeant USMC (Ret.) Peter H Bordeleau; and Chief Michael Kuk, Ft Polk La
Chief Giuliano will be honored on April 28, 2018 at the Annual Military Firefighter Heritage Foundation Awards Dinner, in San Angelo Texas.
For more information about the Military Fire Fighter Heritage Foundation and the MFHF Lifetime Achievement Award, go to www.mffhf.com/lifetime.html
