Pat is a recognized expert in bringing together coalitions of professionals in all fifty states and Canada who represent the fire service, mental health, law enforcement, burn unit staff, other medical staff, and the field of education to identify, treat, and intervene in the especially challenging area of juvenile fire setting. She has worked in concert with the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), the National Fire Academy (NFA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and a host of other organizations to further the impact of her expertise and initiatives. Pat served on the NFPA Education Section Board for twenty years and was an NFPA public Education Advisor for thirty-two years – six of which were as a Lead Public Education Advisor. During her career, she has been instrumental in Learn Not to Burn, Risk Watch, Fire Prevention Week and many other NFPA-led endeavors and programs. Her leadership has benefited the fire service and public safety in so many ways, and her intellectual leadership is a treasure. Most recently, Pat has been involved on the steering committee for Vision 20/20’s National Strategy for Loss Prevention, as well as serving as a technical advisor for the Community Risk Reduction (CRR) curriculum content and education components. With all of this said, there can be no doubt why Pat Mieszala remains one of the principal leaders in the field of fire and life-safety education and possesses the technical expertise and institutional memory to continue to make the fire service more effective in these life- saving endeavors. Pat has been recognized for her work in many ways, including as the recipient of the 2009 Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education at the national level. She is one of those people that brings so much to the table that if you are fortunate enough to have her involved in one of your programs or planning processes, you have secured one of the best possible participants available. Pat is not only smart as a whip, but she can lead or follow as necessary, understands processes, is a great facilitator, and knows how to get things done. I treasure her friendship...and it is truly an honor for me to recognize Pat Mieszala and her leadership and contributions to the fire service during this Women’s History Month. 7
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