NAMES IN THE NEWS
DEPARTMENTS
James M. Manser, administrator of the United States Department of the Navy’s Fire Marshal Program since 1978, retired after 37 years with the federal fire service. Mr. Manser, always a dedicated advocate of fire protection, began his fire service career in August 1946, when he served in the United States Air Force as a crash fire and rescueman, and was later assigned as a senior fire protection specialist. He also served as a United States Navy firefighter and supervisor from 1951-1962. In 1963, Mr. Manser was the police chief to the security officer of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.; his career transition to physical security lasted ten years.
Mr. Manser returned to the Navy Fire Service in 1973, assuming the position of area fire marshal, Atlantic Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command. From 1976-1978, he served as fire chief of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, VA.
One of the many highlights of Mr. Manser’s career was spearheading Firefly, a self-contained lightweight portable pumper to improve marine firefighting protection in hard-to-reach areas. This project was a joint venture among the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. Maritime Administration, and private industry.
Mr. Manser was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Secretary of Defense for his efforts in the Department of Defense Study Group on fire protection. As chairman of the federal fire service task group for five years, his leadership created recognition between civilian and military fire services.
Mr. Manser holds an associate degree in the Administration of Justice from American University, Washington, D.C., and was the first Navy student to graduate with honors from the U.S. Army Resident Military Police School in Fort Gordon, GA.
Prince George’s County, MD, Fire Chief M. H. Estepp has been elected chairman of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Fire Chiefs’ Committee. The committee, which consists of the top fire officials in the Washington, D.C., area, is responsible for coordinating the regional fire protection and emergency medical service policies of the Council of Governments. Chief Estepp joined the Prince George’s County Fire Department in 1958, serving continuously in career/volunteer capacities for 27 years. He was promoted through the ranks and has served as fire chief since June 1978.
Fort Wayne, IN, Firefighter Ronald Hamm was named fire marshal, succeeding retiring Fire Marshal Tom Loraine. Hamm, a 16-year veteran with the department, had served as assistant fire marshal under Loraine. As fire marshal, he is in command of the department’s fire prevention program, fire investigations, school education program, and planning and review. Hamm has also been named Indiana Firefighter of the Year by the American Legion.
Lincoln C. Bailey and N.G. Friesenborg have been elected to serve as chairman and vice-chairman of the Industrial Safety Equipment Association’s board of trustees.
Mr. Bailey is vice-president of marketing and sales for Scott Aviation of Lancaster, NY, and Mr. Friesenborg is president of Parmelee Industries in Kansas City, MO.
Elected to three-year terms as trustees were Robert J. Hershock, manager of the Occupational Safety and Health Products Division of 3M Company, St. Paul, MN; and David F. Miller, III, president of H. L. Bouton Company, Buzzards Bay, MA.
William A. Rickel, chief executive officer and director of Wormald U.S., Inc., Dallas, TX, has been elected as a director of the National Fire Protection Association for a three-year term.
Five senior fire officials attended the Fire Executive Fellowship Program sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
The fellowships were awarded by Harvard’s admission committee based upon recommendations of a nominating panel that included FEMA officials and representatives of the nation’s fire services. This is the second year of the fire fellowship program funded by FEMA’s U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Academy.
The attendees were: John D. Bergerson, chief, Lexington, MA; Timothy R. DeLuca, deputy chief, Los Angeles, CA; Steven T. Edwards, deputy chief, Prince Georges County, MD; Frank E. Florence, deputy chief, Salt Lake City, UT; and William E. Peterson, chief, Plano TX.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) elected three new members to its board of directors: Donald C. Fleckenstein, manager of Industry Standards, Corporate Engineering, Fairfield, CT; Harold W. Gray, Jr., president of Pacific Fire Extinguisher Company, San Carlos, CA; and William A. Rickel, president and chief operating officer of Wormald U.S. Inc., Dallas, TX, were named to a first term.
Continuing in office are: Board Chairman Chester W. Schirmer, president of Schirmer Engineering Corp., Deerfield, IL; First Vice-Chairman Joseph E. Johnson, fire protection consultant, Hilton Head Island, SC; Second Vice-Chairman Alan V. Brunacini, chief of Phoenix Fire Department, Phoenix, AZ; Treasurer Thomas G. Bell, executive vice-president of American Health Care Association, Washington, D.C., and Secretary Warren E. Jackson, vice-president of The Travelers Insurance Companies, Hartford, CT.
Three NFPA board members re-elected to three-year terms are: Robert E. Hawkinson, vice-president of Employers Insurance of Wausau, Wausau, WI, Lucy Reum, Oak Park, IL; and John P. Swope, director of U.S. Navy Fleet Hospital Project, Washington, D.C.
