The Commission on Fire Accreditation, International received and considered the most nominations ever since establishing the prestigious Ray Picard Award in 2001. “The peer driven nomination process revealed an amazing amount of talent, dedication and passion that exists in our industry today” said Rick Black CFAI Program Manager. Black went on to say “Given the number and depth of the nominations received; the Commissioners had a difficult task of selecting the one recipient of this award.” Deputy Chief Kenneth Helgerson was announced the recipient of the award during the CPSE Awards Dinner, held in Chicago, Illinois, on August 26, 2010.
The Ray Picard award is presented annually and recognizes individual superior leadership and outstanding contribution to the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and the accreditation of fire departments. The award bears the name of one of the most regarded and beloved Fire Chiefs who helped mold the self-assessment and accreditation process. Raymond C. Picard’s forty year fire service career included 23 years as Fire Chief of Huntington Beach, California. Chief Picard served as a member of the California State Board of Fire Services for ten years, a member of the Public Safety Steering Committee of the National League of Cities, and President of the Fire Chief Section of the California League of Cities. He has edited and contributed articles to the Managing Fire Services manual published by the International City/County Managment Association. Since retirement, Chief Picard has done extensive work as a consultant, with special experience and expertise in accreditation. He is a graduate of Pasadena City College and the University of Southern California and has done extensive teaching throughout the United States. He has also lectured in Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, China, Japan, and Korea.
Ken is the Deputy Fire Chief at the United States Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado and has been serving in that position since November, 2005. Ken was born and raised in Rehoboth, Massachusetts and graduated from Somerset High School in 1984. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1984 and completed basic military training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He completed technical training at Chanute Air Force Base at the Air Force Fire Protection School as an Honor Graduate. His first duty assignment was Otis Army National Guard Base in Massachusetts. He transferred to the Air Force and attended basic training in October, 1985. His first Air Force duty assignment was Laughlin AFB, Texas where he was selected for Senior Airman Below-the-Zone. Additionally, he served in various fire protection positions during assignments in Alaska, New Hampshire, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, Okinawa, Colorado, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, and Washington before retiring from the Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant and Fire Chief in 2005. He began his civil service career at the Air Force Academy shortly after his retirement.
Chief Helgerson has served as an Accreditation Manager, Fire Chief of an Accredited Agency, and is a CFAI instructor for Department of Defense workshops. He also served as a mentor for numerous Department of Defense agencies pursuing Accredited Status and has served as a CFAI Peer Team Leader for several agencies. He is a certified Fire Officer IV, Fire Instructor III, Fire Inspector III, Hazardous Materials Train-the-Trainer, and Incident Commander.
Chief Helgerson’s military decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement Award with two oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the Army Service Medal.
Chief Helgerson was selected as the Department of Defense Military Fire Officer of the Year, 2002, the Air Force Academy Civilian of the Year, 2008, and the Air Force Civilian Supervisor of the Year, 2008. He is married and has two sons.
