NVFC Announces Recipients of the 2026 Fire Service Achievement Awards

March 24, 2026

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce the recipients of its annual fire service achievement awards. These awards recognize those who have gone above and beyond in service to their department and community.

The 2026 recipients are: Roger Beedy, William J. Darley Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Darley; Frank Leeb, Chief James P. Seavey Sr. Health & Wellness Leadership Award, co-sponsored by VFIS and Ward Diesel Filter Systems; Grace Isakson, Junior Firefighter of the Year, sponsored by California Casualty; and Plano Fire Explorers Post 215, Junior Firefighter Program of the Year, sponsored by California Casualty.

“Fire service volunteers make a significant impact in their communities every day, and we are excited to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of our 2026 award winners,” said NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch. “This year’s recipients showcase commitment and service from those just starting out to those who have spent a lifetime giving back. They exemplify what makes our nation’s volunteer fire service so outstanding.”

Beedy, Leeb, and Isakson will be recognized at an awards ceremony taking place during the NVFC spring conference on May 16 in Alexandria, VA. The Plano Fire Explorers Post 215 will be honored during a local ceremony to enable all of their members to attend.

Learn more about the 2026 NVFC award winners below.

William J. Darley Lifetime Achievement Award: Roger Beedy (IN)
Award sponsored by Darley 

For over five decades, Roger Beedy has exemplified the true calling of a volunteer firefighter. His service began at 15 years old with the Cedar Canyons Volunteer Fire Department in Leo, Indiana, where he dedicated 54 years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. His tenure reflects a lifetime commitment to serving both the volunteer fire service and his community.

Beedy has served in every operational and leadership capacity within his department. He rarely missed training and was often the first to volunteer for additional duties, including community fundraisers, firehouse and apparatus maintenance, and administrative responsibilities. His leadership was steady, dependable, and demonstrated by consistent presence and action.

While he often had to miss family events to answer a call, he always viewed service to others not as a disruption, but as a responsibility he had chosen for life. As Beedy once said, “I just know that if I was hurt or needed some help, I’d hope that someone would be coming. That’s why I do it.”

In a small, close-knit community, Beedy often answered calls involving friends, neighbors, and families he personally knew, sometimes the very sons and daughters he had watched grow up. Over decades of service, he shared in the community’s greatest losses, carrying both the emotional weight and moral responsibility that accompany a lifetime in volunteer fire service.

As an active member of the Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association (IVFA), Beedy has contributed to statewide efforts supporting training, resources, and volunteer firefighter advocacy, extending his impact beyond his local department. He has been recognized at the local and state levels for his tireless service, including the Meritorious Service Award from the State of Indiana, the 2024 MacQueen Excellence Award, the American Legion Department of Indiana 2021–2022 Martin A. Werner Firefighter of the Year Award, the IVFA Indiana General Assembly Award, and multiple department awards. These recognitions reflect sustained excellence, leadership, mentorship, and advocacy.

Beedy’s service is deeply personal and always community focused. With his late father and brother, his sister, wife, and son also serving as volunteers and another sister and mother serving on the auxiliary, community service has defined his family’s life. His legacy is measured not in years alone, but in trust earned, lives touched, and a community made safer because he chose to answer the call.

Chief James P. Seavey Sr. Health & Wellness Leadership Award: Frank Leeb (NY)
Award Co-sponsored by VFIS and Ward Diesel Filter Systems

Frank Leeb has dedicated more than four decades to the fire service, serving both as a volunteer and career firefighter while becoming a nationally recognized advocate for firefighter cancer prevention, occupational health, and wellness. His unique perspective has made him a leading voice in advancing health and safety initiatives that benefit firefighters across the U.S.

Leeb began his service at 14 as a junior member of the East Farmingdale (NY) Volunteer Fire Department on Long Island. His volunteer commitment spans over 40 years and runs parallel to his distinguished 31-year career with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), where he retired in June 2024 as deputy assistant chief. During his FDNY career, Leeb held several leadership roles, including chief of the fire academy, chief of training, and chief of safety for FDNY’s 17,000 members.

Leeb’s work to reduce firefighter cancer and improve occupational health has had a lasting impact at the local, state, and national levels. As chair of FDNY’s Contamination Reduction Workgroup, he helped pioneer comprehensive contamination reduction protocols that have since become models for fire departments nationwide. He is also known for his innovative “trail mix” approach to education, which integrates cancer awareness and health messaging into traditional tactical training so that firefighters receive critical safety information alongside operational instruction.

A respected author and educator, Leeb has written numerous articles on firefighter cancer prevention, contamination reduction, and clean cab concepts. His ability to translate complex research into practical, actionable strategies has helped departments across the country implement effective health and safety practices. He has contributed to the development of national safety standards by previously serving as a member of three NFPA technical committees.

Currently, Leeb serves as managing director of the First Responder Center for Excellence, an affiliate of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. In this role, he leads national initiatives aimed at reducing physical and psychological health risks among first responders. Under his leadership, FRCE continues to expand education, research, and resources focused on firefighter cancer prevention, cardiac health, behavioral health, and suicide prevention.

Leeb is a highly respected leader within both the volunteer and career fire service. Through national speaking engagements, publications, and leadership roles, he continues to champion the mission of protecting the health, safety, and well-being of first responders nationwide.

Junior Firefighter of the Year: Grace Isakson (TX)
Award sponsored by California Casualty 

As a third-year member and current captain of Plano (TX) Fire Explorers Post 215, Grace Isakson consistently exceeds expectations through her leadership, service, and dedication. Her impact is seen not only through measurable accomplishments, but also in the way she elevates those around her and strengthens the program as a whole.

During 2025 alone, Isakson completed more than 330 service hours through training, meetings, station and ambulance ride-outs, and community events. What makes this commitment especially notable is that she simultaneously completed EMT school and maintained outside employment. After earning her EMT certification, she voluntarily began completing 24-hour ambulance ride-outs to gain additional patient care experience beyond what was required. Her approach reflects a mindset centered on preparation and continuous improvement.

As captain, Isakson has had a direct and measurable impact on the stability and effectiveness of her Explorers Post. She consistently fills leadership gaps, assumes responsibilities, and ensures accountability is maintained with professionalism and fairness. She serves as a mentor to younger members, addresses deficiencies constructively, and models the expectations of the fire service through her conduct. Her leadership has helped develop confident Explorers who understand teamwork, responsibility, and service.

Community involvement is central to Isakson’s leadership philosophy. She approaches service events as opportunities to represent the fire service and support the community. She actively participates in life safety education, public outreach programs, and department-supported initiatives, often helping organize events and ensuring younger Explorers are prepared and engaged.

Isakson’s discipline and teamwork were also evident in competitive events during 2025. She was part of the first-place team at the DFW Fire Games, competing against Explorer programs from across the region. She also helped lead the team that won the Plano Flags of Honor Truck Pull, one of the city’s most visible community events.

The respect Isakson has earned within the program is reflected through peer recognition. She has received four of the program’s highest honors: Explorer of the Year, Officer of the Year, Leadership by Example, and Outstanding Achievement for completing EMT school. She was also named Fire Explorer of the Year for the Boy Scouts of America Chisholm Trail Council.

Isakson has been accepted into the fire academy, with plans to pursue paramedic school at Collin College and build a career as a firefighter.

Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award: Plano Fire Explorers Post 215 (TX)
Award sponsored by California Casualty

Since 1988, Plano Fire Explorers Post 215 has developed one of the nation’s most immersive youth public-service leadership programs. The post has grown into a structured, mission-driven leadership academy where teenagers experience the expectations, discipline, and culture of the fire service.

The program is designed to mirror a professional fire department. Each Explorer is assigned to a company – Truck 1, Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, or Engine 4 – mirroring the structure of an operational fire department. This structure emphasizes chain of command, professional communication, and crew-based operations. The program’s 21 active Explorers commit to a rigorous schedule of classroom instruction, hands-on training, physical fitness, and community engagement.

At the core of Post 215’s mission is helping young adults understand the realities of public service. Explorers train using the Essentials of Firefighting curriculum and earn CPR certification while learning fire extinguisher operations and emergency response fundamentals. Classroom learning is reinforced through practical training sessions, allowing Explorers to apply their knowledge in controlled environments.

After completing one year of foundational training, Explorers are assigned to one of Plano’s 13 operational fire stations. Each Explorer is paired with a fire officer whose leadership style and mentorship approach best supports their development. These ride-outs immerse Explorers in daily station life, training evolutions, and the pace of emergency response, ensuring mentorship, accountability, and confidence develop alongside technical skills.

Entry into Post 215 is competitive, and promotions follow a structured process that includes written examinations and evaluations. Officers manage operational responsibilities such as physical fitness coordination, recruiting, social media outreach, and classroom support, developing administrative and leadership skills essential to future fire service careers.

Community service is a defining pillar of Post 215. In 2025, Explorers completed more than 3,200 hours through training, station ride-outs, and community events. Activities included a smoke detector blitz at a senior living community as well as supporting events such as the Plano Balloon Festival, Citizens Fire Academy, Vacation Safety School, and CPR instruction. Competitive events further reinforce discipline and teamwork — Post 215 earned first place at the 2025 DFW Fire Games and won the Plano Flags of Honor Truck Pull.

Through immersive training, intentional mentorship, meaningful service, and peer-driven leadership, Post 215 continues to develop capable, confident young adults dedicated to serving their community. Many alumni of the program have gone on to pursue careers in the fire service, emergency medical services, and other public safety professions.