Recipient of 2015 CFSI/Motorola Solutions Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award
(Washington, DC) - The Congressional Fire Services Institute’s Board of Directors selected Dr. Denis Onieal, Superintendent of the National Fire Academy, as the recipient of the 2015 CFSI/Motorola Solutions Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award. The presentation will take place at the 27th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on April 16th at the Washington Hilton, in Washington, D.C.
Established in 1998 and co-sponsored by CFSI and Motorola Solutions, the Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have been proactive at the local, state and federal government levels to improve and advance fire/emergency services and life safety issues. Representing a cross section of the fire and emergency services, previous recipients include chiefs, instructors, career and volunteer leaders and public safety advocates. Dr. Onieal is the second federal official to receive this honor. In 2004, U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison was selected for the award.
Dr. Onieal has served as Superintendent of the National Fire Academy since 1995. Under his leadership, the National Fire Academy has greatly expanded training opportunities for fire service personnel and enhanced NFA’s curriculum. Working closely with fire training agencies across the country, NFA training is now being offered to over 110,000 students, compared to 15,000 in 1995. In addition, the NFA curriculum has been completely revised under Onieal’s leadership to include college credit recommendation and continuing education units for all resident and off-campus deliveries.
Passionate about teaching, Dr. Onieal continues to write articles and deliver presentations across the nation on professional development within the fire service. While rising through the ranks of the Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department, he pursued his own professional development opportunities which eventually lead to a Doctor of Education degree from New York University in 1990.
“The CFSI Board of Directors congratulates Dr. Denis Onieal on being selected the recipient of the 2015 CFSI/Motorola Solutions Mason Lankford Fire Service Award,” said Bill Jenaway, President of the Congressional Fire Service Institute. “He embodies the passion and dedication that the late-Mason Lankford demonstrated in making the fire service a safer profession. We look forward to honoring Dr. Onieal at the 27th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner.”
“The CFSI/Motorola Solutions Mason Lankford Fire Service Award recognizes individuals who have advanced fire and life safety initiatives,” said Jim Mears, corporate vice president, Motorola Solutions. “Dr. Denis Onieal has gone above and beyond to enhance the training curriculum and make it available to more students than ever before. We are proud to recognize him with this award.”
For additional information about the 27th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars Program, visit the CFSI website at www.cfsi.org. This event benefits the mission of the Congressional Fire Services Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy organization designed to educate members of Congress about fire and life safety issues.