16 Feb 2010

The Fire Protection Research Foundation has appointed new trustees
New trustees will each begin a three-year term in January 2010.

The Fire Protection Research Foundation, an affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), has named Donald P. Bliss of National Infrastructure Institute Foundation and Steven T. Edwards of the University of Maryland as new trustees.

Foundation trustees are selected and appointed by the NFPA board of directors.

Donald P. Bliss is the president and chief operating officer of the National Infrastructure Institute Foundation (NI2). He oversees the activities of the NI2 Center for Infrastructure Expertise, a not-for-profit applied research group dedicated to strengthening the security and resiliency of the nation's built critical infrastructure and key resources. Bliss had a 34 year career in the fire service during which he was appointed as New Hampshire State Fire Marshal in 1992. He also served as homeland security advisor to both Governor Jeanne Shaheen and Governor Craig Benson.

Steven T. Edwards is the director of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute of the University of Maryland. The Institute is the state's comprehensive training agency for the emergency services, training over 38,000 students each year. He is a former fire chief of the Prince George's County fire department in Maryland where he served for 25 years in several positions. Edwards has served as chairman of the board of directors of the Safety Equipment Institute, and is a past chair of the Congressional Fire Service Institute National Advisory Committee, as well as numerous local and state level appointments.