Itasca, Ill. — Darley, in partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), announced on Friday the winners of the 2025 Fire Service Thought Leadership Essay Contest. This year’s essay theme was “Understanding the ‘Why’ Behind Mental Health Challenges in the Fire Service.”
The winners:
- First Place: Marc Wysocki, Captain, Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department, Massachusetts
Essay: Behind the Mask: Uncovering the Root Causes of Mental Health Challenges in the Fire Service - Second Place: Marc Revere, Fire Chief (ret.), Mountain View & Monterey Park Fire Department, California
Essay: What Doesn’t Kill You Will Haunt You - Third Place: John Murphy, Deputy Fire Chief (ret.), Eastside Fire and Rescue, Washington
Essay: Are Firefighters So Unique?
[Complete the form on this page to download the three winning essays]
This year’s initiative challenged firefighters nationwide to explore and uncover the underlying factors that shape mental health challenges in the fire service, beyond the obvious demands of a high-risk, life-saving profession.
“Understanding the ‘why’ behind these challenges is crucial if we want to create meaningful, lasting solutions,” said Paul Darley, president & CEO of Darley. “This competition gives firefighters and thought leaders a unique platform to share insights that can drive real change. With 85 entries submitted, it’s clear the fire service is ready to engage in this critical conversation and lead the way forward.”
Victor Stagnaro, CEO of the NFFF, added that the strength of the fire service has always been in how members show up for each other: “This competition is about more than awareness — it’s about creating solutions together. By sharing ideas and experiences, we can move upstream, address the root causes of mental health challenges, and build a culture where well-being is part of who we are in the fire service.”
The first runner-up honoree is Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Lindsey from the Palo Alto (California) Fire Department who wrote “When The Smoke Clears: What Firefighters Need To Talk About But Don’t.” The second runner-up honoree is Shawn McKerry, dean of the Lakeland College Emergency Training Center in Alberta, Canada, who wrote “Built To Withstand Fire—But Not The Silence.”
The essays were graded using the following criteria, ranked and weighted in importance:
- Specific Solutions Offered: Do you present specific recommendations for change? How innovative, impactful, and viable are the proposed solutions?
- Potential Impact on the Fire Service: Can this impact the fire service in the short and long term? Can this concept move the fire service forward in a positive manner?
- Quality of Writing: How is the essay structure, vocabulary, readability, and overall authorship?
- Intangibles: Is this exciting? Does it challenge preexisting assumptions? Does it invoke a thought-provoking discussion? Is the core message courageous?
Learn more about the Thought Leadership Essay Contest.
[Complete the form on this page to download the winning essays]
