Madrzykowski and Kerber Receive Gold Medals

SFPE members Daniel Madrzykowski, P.E. , FSFPE and Stephen Kerber, P.E., fire protection engineers with the Building and Fire Research Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) received the U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal for Scientific/Engineering Achievement at a ceremony in Washington DC on November 18, 2008.   Steve and Dan were recognized for their research focused on large scale experiments  to understand and document how wind impacts fires in structures and how positive pressure ventilation can improve the safety and effectiveness of fire fighters.  Implementation of the research will lead to improved fire fighting tactics and will lead to decreased injuries for fire fighters and building occupants.  

Shown in the photo left to right: Honorable Carlos M. Gutierrez (Secretary of Commerce), Daniel Madrzykowski, Stephen Kerber, Honorable John J.Sullivan (Deputy Secretary of Commerce), and Patrick Gallagher (Deputy Director of NIST).  Photo courtesy of U.S. DoC. [Click on picture to enlarge it.]