Jerry Laughlin Becomes Our New Associate Editor
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From the Publishers Desk
We’re happy to announce the appointment of Jerry W. Laughlin as associate editor. The newest member of the Fire Engineering editorial staff was previously editor of fire service publications for the National Fire Protection Association.
Jerry brings, in addition to enviable editorial experience, the knowledge of both the paid and volunteer fire service. After receiving a B.A. in industrial psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1970, he became a fire fighter in the Birmingham Fire Department. There he became the youngest member of the department to be certified as an instructor, and he received the Outstanding Service Award from the Birmingham Fire Fighters Association.
In addition to duty in an engine company, Jerry was a fire prevention inspector and department photographer.
He was editor of the Alabama Professional Firefighter and wrote “Bama Burning: Fourteen Famous Fires in Alabama,” and “Birmingham Fire Department Centennial, 1873-1973.” During that period, he also found time to write an article for Fire Engineering.
In 1976, he went to the Oklahoma State University to become first an associate editor and later supervisor of fire protection publications, the training manuals published under the name of the International Fire Service Training Association.
While in Birmingham, Jerry received an A.A. degree in fire science from Jefferson State Junior College.
After going to the NFPA, Jerry took up residence in Norfolk, Mass., and rounded out his fire service experience by joining the volunteer fire department there.
We’re glad to have Jerry on board and we think that both Fire Engineering and our readers will benefit from his experience and capabilities.
