AFSA Announces UMD Legacy Campaign Support

Legacy Campaign

Article reproduced courtesy of the American Fire Sprinkler Association.

The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) recently announced its support as a corporate sponsor for the University of Maryland (UMD) Department of Fire Protection Engineering (FPE) Legacy Campaign for a Professor of the Practice.

In announcing the association's $25,000 financial commitment to the Legacy Campaign, AFSA President Steve Muncy stated: "AFSA and its educational affiliate, the Center for Life Safety Education (CLSE), have supported students majoring in University of Maryland's FPE program for more than three decades through the Philip L. DeCamara, Jr., Scholarships. As an association that was founded on the principles of providing quality education for the fire sprinkler industry, we are proud to continue our support in the development of future fire protection engineers by becoming a corporate sponsor in this important campaign. This is an investment in the future of our industry and our member companies."

UMD's FPE department has the only ABET-accredited undergraduate fire protection engineering program in the world and one of three graduate programs in the United States. The endowed professor of the practice faculty position will bring hands-on field experience to the undergraduate curriculum to ensure that it includes practical application in fire protection engineering while the department continues to conduct applied research for industry.

Although the campaign is still ongoing, financial support from A. James Clark School of Engineering Dean Darryll Pines enabled the hiring of the first endowed clinical professor, Kenneth E. Isman, P.E, a 1986 graduate of the program. From 1987 to 2014, Isman was an engineer with the National Fire Sprinkler Association, where he ultimately rose to the position of vice president of engineering.

AFSA Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services Roland Huggins, P.E., also a graduate of the UMD FPE program (B.S. '85), notes: "The addition of this clinical professor of the practice provides a better opportunity for UMD graduates to have a more realistic grasp of fire sprinkler details in their future engineering efforts. Ken has a great passion for teaching, and University of Maryland FPE students will benefit greatly from his in-depth understanding of fire protection systems."

For information on the University of Maryland Department of Fire Protection Engineering or the Legacy Campaign, visit fpe.umd.edu or fpe.umd.edu/legacy-campaign.

About AFSA
The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is a non-profit, international association representing fire sprinkler contractors, dedicated to the educational advancement of its members and promotion of the use of fire sprinkler systems. AFSA was organized in 1981 to provide the fire sprinkler contractor with training, consulting, communication, representation and many more services, all of which have expanded over its existence. Visit www.firesprinkler.org.

Published June 2, 2015