An Eglin firefighter recently earned a Defense Department honor for Fire and Emergency Services.
Joseph Suddarth Jr. claimed the 2024 Fire Service Instructor of the Year award for efforts in safeguarding and advancing vital national interests and assures military readiness and resilience.
These annual awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments of its fire departments, fire officers, firefighters, and fire service instructors in their service roles at military installations. DOD F&ES leadership selected nine winners from a total of 40 nominees to honor with this recognition.
“Receiving this award is a truly humbling experience,” said Suddarth, Eglin’s assistant fire chief. “We have such a strong emergency services family, and this recognition reflects the dedication and expertise of our entire organization, it’s not just one individual. Together, we work tirelessly to push the needle further in emergency response and innovation. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside these dedicated professionals.”
According to the awards package: Suddarth commanded an off-base wildfire, directing four agencies and 62 responders. His leadership resulted in the protection of three counties, 462,000 acres, and DOD's largest active weapons test range worth $279 million.
He also revamped the National Registry Emergency Medical Responder training to decrease class time by 75 percent and save 3,000 workhours. His training, which earned a 95-percent pass rate and 171 certifications, was adopted Air Force-wide.
"Dedicated F&ES personnel sustain our defense communities through strategic planning, training, and incident response and recovery," stated Robert E. Thompson, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment. "Their ability to continuously adapt to dynamic conditions better enables the military mission and helps safeguard the American people against catastrophic threats."