Steve Kerber, UL's Fire Safety Research Institute vice president and executive director, was awarded the 2023 Dr. John Granito Award for Excellence in Fire Leadership and Management Research during the 90th IFSTAⓇ Summer Validation Conference July 8, 2023.
“Research related to certain elements of structural firefighting is difficult, at best, but Dr. Steve Kerber and his teammates have not backed down from the process,” said Dennis Compton, retired fire chief and former IFSTAⓇ Executive Board chairman. “His research has inspired the fire service to perform in a safer, better informed, and more effective manner. Steve has the talent, knowledge, and courage necessary to challenge myths and traditions, and doing so has resulted in better training, equipment, and more positive fire ground outcomes across the country.”
“Research related to certain elements of structural firefighting is difficult, at best, but Dr. Steve Kerber and his teammates have not backed down from the process,” said Dennis Compton, retired fire chief and former IFSTAⓇ Executive Board chairman. “His research has inspired the fire service to perform in a safer, better informed, and more effective manner. Steve has the talent, knowledge, and courage necessary to challenge myths and traditions, and doing so has resulted in better training, equipment, and more positive fire ground outcomes across the country.”
Kerber has a fire protection engineering bachelor’s and master’s from the University of Maryland. He also completed his doctorate at Lund University in Sweden.
“Steve and I first met at the College Park Volunteer Fire Department where he was a student and member,” said Chief Ron Siarnicki, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and First Responder Center for Excellence executive director. “I recognized first off that he had a unique talent with ideas on how to improve the fire service community. His commitment to research and innovations within our industry have truly made a difference.”
Kerber served for 13 years in the fire service, mostly at the College Park Fire Department in Prince George’s County Maryland. At his highest position, he ranked as deputy chief. Kerber was awarded the 2014 George D. Post Instructor of the Year by ISFSI and Fire Engineering, 2019 Metropolitan Fire Chiefs President’s Award of Distinction, and was given the honorary rank of battalion chief by the Fire Department of New York.
“Dr. Steve Kerber is the epitome of a passionate scientist, one who contemplates with brilliance and delivers with his heart,” said Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. fire administrator. “Dr. Kerber’s work, and that of the team he leads, is cutting edge, just in time research. Steve takes on the hard challenges for the fire service and seeks solutions. And when solutions or insights are revealed, Steve ensures that they are appropriately translated for use in the fire station and on the front lines.
“Dr. Kerber is a visionary, building a team of credentialed researchers and growing new ones… a recipe for longevity and perpetual success,” Dr. Moore-Merrell said.
The Dr. John Granito Award for Excellence in Fire Leadership and Management Research, honors Granito and his contributions to the fire service and academia. Each year, the recipient of this award presents the keynote address at the annual International Fire Service Journal of Leadership and Management Research Symposium held in conjunction with the IFSTAⓇ Validation Conference.
WRITTEN BY: Sarah Palmer | FPPⓇ Marketing Specialist
The International Fire Service Training Association is an organization of fire service personnel who are dedicated to upgrading firefighting techniques and safety through training. Since 1934, IFSTAⓇ has been the worldwide leader of the fire service in developing fire and emergency responder training materials. IFSTAⓇ produces training manuals, eBooks, curriculum, test prep, workbooks, skill sheets, interactive courses, instructor resources and more. For IFSTA-FPPⓇ media inquiries, contact Marketing Coordinator Erin Portman at erinfl@osufpp.org or call 800-654-4055.
