The University of Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) recognizes instructors who exemplify quality instruction, student engagement, professional demeanor and knowledge base. March is the fifth month that IFSI instructors has been chosen and are being recognized.
Keith “Doc” Patterson, March’s Instructor of the Month, has been an instructor for IFSI since 2007. Doc is best known for teaching Management and Fire Prevention classes. He has taught more than 50 classes and is skilled in eight sets of firefighter training.
Doc joined IFSI upon retirement in 2006 after seven years with the Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District where he was director of education and media affairs. Prior to that, Doc was with the Monmouth Fire Department for 25 years, retiring at the rank of Captain. Patterson resides in Galesburg.
“I had the pleasure of teaching alongside Doc at this year’s Winter Fire School and I believe he is one of the best Instructors at IFSI. I often tell students Doc is the most interesting man I know. Each time we teach together he seems to be able to read the audience and find a way to make his presentation easy and fun to understand. He can give students just the kind of lesson they need to get the most out of the class,” Captain Ed Collins of the Normal Fire Department said.
“IFSI instructors are the finest in the state and nation and Doc is no exception. His commitment to excellence is at the heart of our mission success to bring the finest training, education, research and information to the firefighters of Illinois,” Royal Mortenson, Director for IFSI said.
The Illinois Fire Service Institute is the statutory State Fire Academy for Illinois. In addition to training provided at its Champaign campus, the Institute offers one-day hands-on classes for fire departments at Regional Training Centers and local fire stations across the State. The mission of the Illinois Fire Service Institute is to help firefighters do their work through training, education, information and research.
