Fire Equipment Manufacturers’ Association has selected Glenn Corbett for its 2017 Life Safety Advocate Award. Corbett is an associate professor of fire service at John Jay College in New York City, a technical editor of Fire Engineering Magazine, and sits on the New Jersey State Fire Code Council. Previously, Corbett served as an Assistant Chief of the Waldwick (NJ) Fire Department and is a former president of the New Jersey Society of Fire Service Instructors.

The annual Life Safety Advocate Award is given to a fire safety professional who has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing the safety of the public through innovative efforts, including legislative, educational, enforcement or other effective means.

“Glenn Corbett is a longtime advocate for improving fire safety in buildings and emergency response, and has tirelessly campaigned for advances in our building and fire codes, as well as firefighting protocols,” said Duane Leonhardt, president of Fire Equipment Manufacturers’ Association. “Having spent a large part of his career in code enforcement, Glenn’s lasting commitment and ongoing efforts to promote fire safety make him exceptionally qualified to receive this esteemed award.” 

In New Jersey, Corbett has championed a balanced approach to fire protection, and has been instrumental in developing proposals to create a more fire-safe environment in buildings under construction. He has also helped draw national attention to fire safety needs in modern high-rise construction, along with enhanced fire protection provisions for lightweight wood-frame, multi-family dwellings in order to make these structures safer for both the public and firefighters.

Additionally, Corbett testified before the 9/11 Commission and the U.S. House of Representatives Science Committee regarding the emergency response and building safety issues of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Throughout his career, Corbett has also served on:

• The Skyscraper Safety Campaign, a building safety advocacy group created by 9/11 family members, as the chief technical advisor
• The Federal Advisory Committee of the National Construction Safety Team that investigated the World Trade Center disaster and the Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island
• New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Building Code Task Force
• The U.S. Chemical Safety Board as a technical consultant on a number of investigations

“As an author, teacher and industry leader, few have dedicated themselves to this extent of furthering the fire safety profession as Glenn Corbett,” added Leonhardt. “His contributions to the industry make him the ideal recipient of the Fire Equipment Manufacturers’ Association’s 2017 Life Safety Advocate Award.”

Corbett holds a Master of Engineering in Fire Protection Engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and pursued a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Rutgers University. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas, and has served as a fire protection consultant for the City of Austin (TX) Fire Department and was the Administrator of Engineering Services for the San Antonio (TX) Fire Department.

Glenn Corbett will be formally presented with the Life Safety Advocate Award during the Fire Equipment Manufacturers’ Association’s