Siarnicki Awarded 2010 Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award
Announces that military firefighters who die while performing firefighting duties will be included in the NFFF memorial
By Janelle Foskett

Chief Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), announced during this morning’s general session at FDIC that military firefighters who died while performing firefighting duties would now be included in the NFFF memorial.

Siarnicki made the announcement during his acceptance speech for the 2010 Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award.

Twelve firefighters will be retroactively included in the memorial and honored at this year's National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, Oct. 2-3. They are:

A1C Ronald J. McNelley, USAF
A1C Monex Thomas, USAF
TSGT William C. Hartsell, USAF
AMN Steven L. Huitt, USAF
A1C James E. White, USAF
A1C Christopher Rezac, USAF
LCPL Joseph E. Juliano, uSMC
SRA Donald A. Trotochaud, USAF
TGST Thomas R. O'Flahrity, ANC
CPL Daniel H. Yakin, USMC
CPL Robert M. Weber, Jr., USMC
SSGT Ray Rangel, USAF

“Let us never forget,” Siarnicki added. He then asked for a moment of silence from the audience in honor of the 12 fallen.

Prior to making the announcement about military firefighters, Siarnicki addressed what Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award means to him: “Tommy’s a gentleman who’s done so much for the fire service, and being associated with his legacy is phenomenal.” He added that he felt honored and privileged to be included in the same group as those who have received the award before him. Previous winners include James O. Page, Ray Downey, Frank Brannigan, Alan Brunacini and John Mittendorf.

Siarnicki also thanked a select few for their role in his success: his parents, the Prince George’s County (Md.) Fire/EMS Department, the Board of Directors at the NFFF, the United Communities Volunteer Fire Department and his wife, Jan.

“If we can prevent a single firefighter fatality, our mission is justified,” Siarnicki added.

In his role as executive director, Siarnicki manages the day to day operations of the Foundation to include the National Memorial Services, construction of the National Memorial Park and the renovation of the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel located in Emmitsburg, Md. In addition, he created the catalyst for the development of the Everyone Goes Home Program designed to reduce the number of firefighter line-of-duty deaths that occur each year in the United States.

Chief Siarnicki delivers presentations at fire and emergency conferences and meetings across the country, increasing awareness of the Foundation, the efforts of its prevention work and support for the families of the fallen.

While introducing Siarnicki, FireEngineering Editor-in-Chief Bobby Halton noted that in his role at the NFFF, Siarnicki provides families “strong, loving and caring shoulders to lean on when they need it most.” In essence, Siarnicki ensures that families’ emotional and financial support is taken care of.

Halton also quoted Chief Billy Goldfeder as saying that Siarnicki has become a firefighter “death preventer.”

Siarnicki began his career as a firefighter with the Prince George’s County (Md.) Fire/EMS Department in 1978 and, over 24 years, progressed through the ranks to chief of the department. In this position, he served as the CEO responsible for the fire, rescue and emergency medical services of Prince George’s County. While with the department, he also served on the Joint Fire and Police Pension Board for four years.

Prior to joining the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department, he served as a volunteer firefighter with the Monessen Volunteer Fire Department, Hose House #2, in western Pennsylvania. In doing so, he followed a family tradition—both his father and grandfather were volunteer firefighters.

In July 2001, he retired from the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department to take the position of Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Janelle Foskett is managing editor of FireRescue magazine.