The Selection Committee shall meet annually prior to the Annual Membership Meeting to review the nominations. The Selection Committee shall have a copy of all nomination materials forwarded to them by April 15th of the year of the award. The Chair of the Selection Committee may conduct follow-up on any or all of the nominations as necessary. The Selection Committee shall determine the process for evaluating the nominations, keeping in mind the prestigious nature of the award and the level of excellence demonstrated by Mr. Strickland. A maximum of one award will be presented annually; however, no award will be given if, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, none of the nominations meet the criteria.

Description

The Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications Board has established an award in honor of Russell J. Strickland. This award is to be presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated professionalism in the field of fire service certification in the same manner that Mr. Strickland performed for the Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications Board.

Mr. Strickland was instrumental in the organization and founding of the Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications Board and has served in many capacities including Treasurer, Chairperson of the Accreditation Training Review Agencies Task Force and while holding the position of Assistant Director of the Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute served as a member of that agency’s Accredited Training Review Agency Local Review Board and as their Representative to the Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications Board. Mr. Strickland also served many years as the Maryland Representative to the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.

Professional, dedicated, honest, and fair were the hallmarks of Mr. Strickland’s daily life and work. His words and deeds were always courteous and respectful. It is in this light that the Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications Board honors Mr. Strickland through this award.

Submission Deadline: March 1

Award Rules

A call for nominations will be open to all member agencies during the months of January thru February each year and all member agencies are invited to participate. Nominations for the Russell J. Strickland must be submitted to:

The Russell J. Strickland Award Selection Committee
Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications Board
c/o Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute
University of Maryland
Building 199
College Park, Maryland 20742-6811

by March 1st of each year on the form designed specifically for this award. A one page narrative shall be attached to the nomination form detailing the nominee’s contributions and up to 3 endorsements for the nominee may be included. The endorsements shall be no more than three pages in length and should thoroughly detail the nominee’s contributions.

The Russell J. Strickland Award will be presented at the annual membership meeting held in June in conjunction with the Annual MSFA Convention , by members of the Executive Board of the Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications Board and the Selection Committee or their designee(s). Every effort shall be made to ensure that the recipient is present.

The recipient of the Russell J. Strickland Award will receive a plaque or statue commemorating the award and a perpetual plaque containing the names of all award winners will be maintained in the office of the Maryland Fire Service Personnel Qualifications Board. Both awards will have the MFSPQB seal at the top. The office plaque will have space for 20 recipients.