NFPA Celebrates Global Safety Excellence at 2025 Stars at Night Awards
The National Fire Protection Association honored trailblazers in fire, electrical, and life safety at its 2025 gala in Las Vegas, spotlighting leaders and innovations that are shaping safer communities worldwide.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Jun 16, 2025
The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) celebrated global excellence in fire, electrical, and life safety at its 2025 Stars at Night Awards Gala, held Sunday, June 15, during the NFPA Conference & Expo® in Las Vegas.
The annual ceremony recognized professionals, researchers, and organizations whose leadership and innovation have significantly advanced the NFPA mission and improved public safety outcomes around the world.
Among the evening’s top honors:
- Fire Protection Research Foundation Medal: Presented to the WUI-NITY 4 project team for developing an advanced wildfire evacuation modeling tool that bridges academic research with real-world emergency planning.
- Harry C. Bigglestone Award: Awarded posthumously to Professors Howard R. Baum and James G. Quintiere for their paper, The Emmons Problem Revisited. The $5,000 prize will support fire protection engineering students at the University of Maryland.
- NFPA Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year: Shawneri Guzman of Washington State was honored for her creative and community-centered use of NFPA’s public education materials.
- NFPA Electrical Inspector of the Year: Robert Fahey of Wisconsin was recognized for his decades of leadership and training in electrical inspection and safety.
- NFPA Fire Marshal of the Year: Chief Tommy Demopoulos of Tamarac Fire Rescue (FL) received the award for his education-first enforcement approach and business-focused outreach.
- NFPA Distinguished Service Award: Shmuel Netanel of Israel was recognized for his pioneering work in expanding NFPA code adoption and fire safety practices throughout the Middle East.
- James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal: Amy Acton was honored for her national advocacy on behalf of burn survivors and her public policy leadership.
- Standards Medal: Dr. Marcelo Hirschler was recognized for his decades-long role in shaping NFPA standards and building consensus across industries.
- Richard G. Biermann Award: Donald R. Cook was acknowledged for his service to the NFPA and his role in advancing the National Electrical Code® (NEC®).
- Global Influencer Award: The Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority received this honor for its system-wide efforts that led to measurable safety improvements across the United Arab Emirates.
Photos and full award descriptions are available on the NFPA Awards page.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.