FSRI’s Vice President and Executive Director Awarded the Distinguished Dr. John Granito Award
The Fire Safety Research Institute, part of UL Research Institutes' vice president and executive director, Steve Kerber, is the 2023 recipient of the distinguished Dr. John Granito Award in Fire Leadership and Management Research. This award is presented annually to the professional who has significantly advanced fire leadership and management literature through their research efforts. The award was presented by Fire Protection Publications (FPP) at the International Fire Service Journal of Leadership and Management’s (IFSJLM) Research Symposium in July. The event is held in conjunction with the Summer IFSTA Validation Conference.
“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.”
“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.
Steve 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. He is a proven and dedicated leader in fire service and fire safety research. Currently leading a fire safety research team dedicated to addressing the world's unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers to reduce death, injury and loss from fire, Steve is a 13-year veteran of the fire service, and has led research in the areas of fire safety engineering, firefighter safety, fire forensics, and fire science.
