The Metropolitan Fire Chiefs (Metro) Association honored James M. Shannon, president of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), with the Metro President’s Award of Distinction and the special Metro designation of Honorary Metro Fire Chief. The special honors were presented to Shannon at the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Conference in Baltimore, Maryland on June 3rd.
Metro Chiefs Meet in Baltimore
The President’s Award of Distinction is presented to a person who has gone above and beyond to promote Metro values and its mission. Honorary Metro Fire Chief status is reserved for non-members who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in fire and life safety. In the Metro’s 49-year history, Shannon is the second person to receive this honor following former NFPA President George Miller.
“Jim has been an outstanding leader at NFPA, a world leader in fire and life safety,” said G. Keith Bryant, president of Metro. “Not only has Jim led NFPA to new levels of influence, no one has done more than him to support the Metro Chiefs. In great appreciation for all he has done for Metro and the fire service as a whole, we are pleased to present him with the Metro President’s Award of Distinction.
“Further, on behalf of the Metro Executive Board and all Metro member chiefs, we honor Jim with a very special designation of Honorary Metro Fire Chief, only the second designation in our 49-year history,” Bryant added.
Shannon will conclude his 12-year tenure as NFPA president in June, with a legacy of support for the nation’s fire service. Under his leadership, NFPA has considerably advanced its mission of fire safety, better protecting the general public and members of the fire service.
Shannon spearheaded the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes, which quickly led to every state passing legislation that required cigarettes to meet a specific fire safety standard. In collaboration with the fire service and others, this initiative will save hundreds of lives, including the lives of firefighters who are at risk every time they respond to a cigarette-related fire.
Following the success of the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes, Shannon intensified NFPA’s work to advocate for mandatory installation of home fire sprinklers in all new one- and two-family homes, another critical safeguard to enhance public safety and better protect our nation’s fire service.
Throughout his time at NFPA, Shannon has been an ardent supporter of the needs of the fire service, especially its ability to respond to ordinary and extraordinary events. He testified before congressional hearings, advocated for increased funding through grant and government programs, and committed the support of NFPA staff and resources to every major fire service organization in the country.
