PRESS RELEASE
EMMITSBURG, Md. — Oklahoma State University and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening fire service leadership, expanding applied research and improving firefighter safety nationwide.
The collaboration brings together OSU’s academic expertise in fire and emergency management with NFFF’s mission-driven leadership to honor fallen firefighters, support their families and reduce preventable line-of-duty deaths and injuries.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to translating research into practice and ensuring firefighter safety initiatives are grounded in both real-world experience and academic rigor,” said Haley Murphy, associate professor in the School of Fire, Construction and Emergency Management in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. “Together, OSU and NFFF are creating new pathways for leadership development, evidence-based learning and professional dialogue across the fire service.”
Strengthening Fellowship through academic collaboration
The agreement centers on strengthening the NFFF Fellowship Program through OSU’s academic resources.
Under the partnership, fellows will have access to scholarly mentorship, applied research guidance and other academic support from OSU faculty. The collaboration may also create opportunities for micro-credentialing or other forms of academic recognition for fellows who successfully complete the fellowship requirements.
Fellows will complete applied practicums addressing real-world challenges in the fire service. FCEM faculty will provide academic guidance to help ensure projects meet both professional and scholarly standards.
“This collaboration creates a unique space where academia and emerging fire service leaders come together with a focused purpose,” said Daniel T. Kistner, director of fire service programs for the NFFF. “It helps prepare fellows to engage with policymakers, regulators and peers while strengthening the connection between research, education and real-world practice.”
Kistner said the partnership also enhances the fellowship experience by encouraging critical thinking and professional dialogue. Fellows are challenged to question established norms, explore new perspectives and engage more deeply with the research shaping the fire service.
Advancing firefighter safety research
The agreement also reinforces ongoing research collaboration between OSU and the NFFF on firefighter leadership, behavior and organizational culture.
One example is the Firefighter Behaviors and Viewpoints Survey, a national research effort designed to better understand firefighters’ perspectives on training, fireground tactics and safety practices.
Findings from the project were recently published in the International Fire Service Journal of Leadership and Management, highlighting how research partnerships between academia and the fire service can help inform operational decision-making and safety practices.
Murphy was a principal contributor to the survey design, working alongside national partners to develop and analyze the data. The collaboration illustrates how academic research and practitioner insight can be combined to produce findings that reflect both scientific rigor and real-world conditions.
“When research is intentionally connected to practitioner needs, it becomes a powerful tool for improving safety and leadership,” Kistner said. “This partnership allows us to expand the impact of the Fellowship and ensure lessons learned are shared broadly across the fire service.”
Kistner emphasized that one of the greatest challenges in fire service research is ensuring that findings are adopted in practice. Cultural traditions and established norms can slow change, even when new evidence is available. By connecting researchers with practitioners, a partnership is developed, helping increase the likelihood that research will influence behavior and improve outcomes.
Additionally, Fire Protection Publications at OSU may develop a companion publication to the IFSJLM, highlighting the work of NFFF fellows and selected fellowship practicum projects. The publications would help share applied research findings with both practitioners and scholars across the fire service.
Plans may include joint training initiatives and research symposia where fellows can present their work and engage with fire service leaders and researchers.
The collaboration also creates new pathways for fellows to share their work through presentations and publications, expanding the reach of applied research across the fire service and reinforcing the value of evidence-based leadership.
Supporting a shared mission
Leaders from both organizations say the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing firefighter leadership, safety and survivability across the profession.
Educational materials, publications and events developed through the partnership may be co-branded to reflect the collaborative nature of the work and the shared fire service mission of “Until Everyone Goes Home.”
“Until Everyone Goes Home” reflects a commitment to honoring fallen firefighters through the relentless pursuit of reducing preventable line-of-duty deaths,” Kistner said. “Partnerships like this help move that work forward by strengthening leadership and expanding how knowledge is shared across the fire service.”
The memorandum of understanding took effect upon final signature and will remain in place for three years, with the opportunity for renewal.