to follow when creating their own conferences. Her work was guided by Dr. Anne Phillips’ vision of fire prevention and public education as critical and equal parts of managing community risk. As part of the legacy Pam has left, it is important to mention that more than 45 years later, state fire and life-safety education conferences continue to occur throughout the nation. In 1977, Pam produced the hallmark fire prevention education document titled, “Public Fire Education Planning: A Five-Step Process.” As the NFPCA later became the United States Fire Administration (USFA), Pam’s collaborative efforts continued to improve the fire and life-safety profile of the nation as a whole. After leaving the USFA, she divided her career between fire and life-safety education, technical writing, and editorial management. Pam was the editor of the first fire and life-safety education section of the “Fire Protection Handbook”, and she was the first Executive Director of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) “Learn Not to Burn Foundation.” Pam later authored the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) book titled, Fire and Life Safety Educator, 2nd Edition – and she is a nationally certified fire and life-safety educator. It’s only fitting that Pam Powell was the 2015 recipient of the national Dr. Anne Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education presented by the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and IFSTA. If the fire service had a superman-style Clark Kent, who was instead a woman, I think she would be named Pam Powell. Pam is a quiet and mild-mannered leader, educator, writer, and collaborator who flies (albeit on airplanes) to places where she can utilize her superhero powers to protect the lives of others in any way she can. Although mostly retired, Pam continues to lend her leadership, knowledge, and skills to the causes she is closest to. Pam is a good friend whom I have worked with many times over the years. I admire Pam Powell, so it is truly an honor for me to profile this incredible woman of the fire service during Women’s History Month.
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