May is a month to honor and celebrate our brave first responders, starting with the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial ceremony, National Police Week last week, and finally the 50th anniversary of National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week this week. S&T recognizes all emergency responders who provide lifesaving services to our nation’s communities, honors the sacrifices made by these highly skilled professionals, and continually works to develop technology solutions that improve their safety and effectiveness.
We recently had an opportunity to showcase some of our first responder technology at the inaugural World Fire Congress. Hosted in Washington, D.C., by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and National Fallen Firefighter Association, the event welcomed delegates from 56 nations and two multilateral organizations to establish a global fire service leadership network.
As part of the event, I was touched to participate in a memorial service for our nation’s fallen firefighters alongside FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell. Later in the week, S&T team members facilitated discussions on emerging and evolving global fire challenges, including structure fire, climate change impacts, and firefighter health and safety. The insights shared during these discussions will guide multilateral collaboration over the next two years.