2021
Fire Chief of the Year: Mary Cameli, Mesa Fire and Medical Department, AZ
Russell E. Sanders Lifetime Achievement Award: Mike Duyck, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, OR
2020
Fire Chief of the Year: Charles Hood, San Antonio, TX
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Denis Onieal, Retired Jersey City, NJ
2019
Fire Chief of the Year: Kevin McGee, Prince William County
Life Time Achievement Award: Mary Beth Michos, Retired, PWC
President’s Award of Distinction: Stephen Kerber, UL
2018
Fire Chief of the Year: Daryl Osby, LA County, CA
Life Time Achievement Award: Mark L. Light, IAFC CEO
President’s Award of Distinction: Ken LaSala, IAFC
President’s Award of Distinction: Dave Downey, Miami-Dade, FL
2017
Fire Chief of the Year: Joe Finn, Boston, MA
Life Time Achievement Award: Harold Hairston, posthumously
President’s Award of Distinction: G. Keith Bryant, Oklahoma City, OK
2016
Fire Chief of the Year: Maurice Kemp, Miami, FL
Life Time Achievement Award: Shorty Bryson, Miami/Dade County, FL
President’s Award of Distinction: Rhoda Mae Kerr, Austin, TX (Given by Ken Block)
2015
Fire Chief of the Year: Ken Block, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Life Time Achievement Award: Luther Fincher, Charlotte, NC (Retired).
President’s Award of Distinction: Maurice Kemp, Miami (Given by Larry Few)
2014
Fire Chief of the Year: G. Keith Bryant, Oklahoma City, OK
Life Time Achievement Award: Donald Austin, Detroit, MI (Retired)
President’s Award of Distinction: James Shannon, NFPA (Given by G. Keith Bryant)
2013
Fire Chief of the Year: Keith Richter, Orange County, CA
Life Time Achievement Award: Peter Holland, Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor Communities and Local Government, London, England
President’s Award of Distinction: Vicki Lee, IAFC (Given by Steve Dean)
President’s Award of Distinction: Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, IAFF (Given by Steve Dean)
President’s Award of Distinction: Dr. Denis Onieal, NFA (Given by Steve Dean)
2012
No Fire Chief of the Year
Life Time Achievement Award: Bill McCammon (Retired) and Jeff Johnson (Retired)
2011
Fire Chief of the Year: Richard “Smokey” Dyer, Kansas City, MO
Life Time Achievement Award: Glenn Gaines, Fairfax, VA (Retired) and Acting USFA Administrator
2010
Fire Chief of the Year: William “Bill” Stewart, Toronto, CA
Life Time Achievement Award: Kelvin J. Cochran, USFA
President’s Award of Distinction: Glenn Gaines, Fairfax, VA (Retired) Given by Bob Hendricks
2009
Fire Chief of the Year: Ned Pettus, Jr., Columbus, Ohio
Life Time Achievement Award: Russell Sanders, Louisville, KY (Retired)
President’s Award of Distinction: Luther Fincher, Charlotte, NC (Retired) (Given by Bill Stewart)
2008
Fire Chief of the Year: William “Shorty” Bryson, Miami
Life Time Achievement Award: Charlie Dickinson, Pittsburgh (Retired)
2007
Fire Chief of the Year: Sir Ken Knight, London, England
Life Time Achievement Award: Dennis Compton, Mesa, Arizona (Retired)
Award of Distinction: Ron Siarnicki, National Fallen Fire Fighters Foundation (Given by Keith Richter)
2006
Fire Chief of the Year: William R. “Bill” Bamattre, Los Angeles City, CA
Life Time Achievement Award: Herman Brice, Palm Beach County, FL
Award of Distinction: Charles Parent, New Orleans, LA (Given by Kelvin Cochran)
2005
Fire Chief of the Year: P. Michael Freeman, Los Angeles County, CA
Life Time Achievement Award: Warren McDanniels, New Orleans, LA
Award of Distinction: Gordon Aoyagi, Montgomery County, MD (Given by Becky Denlinger)
2004
Fire Chief of the Year: Jeff Bowman, San Diego, CA
Life Time Achievement Award: Dodd Miller, Dallas, TX
Award of Distinction: Russ Sanders, Louisville, KY (Given by Wes Shoemaker)
2003
Fire Chief of the Year: Harold Hairston, Philadelphia, PA.
Life Time Achievement: Dave Paulison, Miami, FL (Retired).
Award of Distinction: Charlie Dickinson, Pittsburgh, PA (Retired) (Given by Mario Trevino)
2002
Fire Chief of the Year: Warren McDaniels, New Orleans, LA.
Life Time Achievement Award: Alan Brunacini, Phoenix, AZ.
Award of Distinction: Joe Redden, Newark, NJ (Retired). (Given by Tim Fuller)
2001
Fire Chief of the Year: Luther Fincher, Charlotte, NC.
Life Time Achievement Award: Bill McCrossen, New Orleans (Retired).