Leading the fire and emergency service to excellence
Leading the fire and emergency service to excellence
CPSE Overview
Ray Picard Award
Nominations are due by December 15, 2025
In 2000, the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) established the Ray Picard Award. We designed this annual award to recognize Chief Ray Picard’s vision in pioneering quality improvement for the fire and emergency service. Chief Picard was one of the earliest champions of the self-assessment and accreditation process that has led to a culture and paradigm shift within the fire service.
This annual award will be presented to an individual who exemplifies the ability, character, dedication, leadership, and visionary attributes Chief Picard exhibited. The individual should personify Chief Picard’s contributions and exceptional leadership to the CFAI and the accreditation of fire service organizations.
Learn about other CPSE awards or contact CPSE if you have any questions.
This annual award recognizes an individual who exemplifies the ability, character, dedication, leadership, and visionary attributes Chief Picard exhibited. The individual should personify Chief Picard’s contributions and exceptional leadership to the CFAI and the accreditation of fire service organizations.
Eligibility:
Any Peer Assessor, individual member of an accredited agency, former CFAI or CPC Commissioner, and former CPSE board members are eligible to compete for this award. CPSE staff, contractors, and current members of the CPSE board, CPC, or CFAI are ineligible to compete for this award.
Criteria:
Individuals will be assessed for their significant achievements or contributions to the assessment and accreditation process in the following areas:
- Accomplishments (within the accreditation process)
- Initiative (including helping others with the accreditation process)
- Technical competence (including serving as a peer assessor, team leader, or instructor)
- Leadership ability (including spreading the word)
- Additional achievements and contributions
Procedures:
- Nominations will open on October 15, 2025.
- Applicants must complete the online nomination form and submit electronically by 5 p.m. Eastern on December 15, 2025.
- You might want to download a Word version of the form, fill it out offline, and then copy-and-paste the contents into the online form.
- Incomplete nomination packages will be rejected.
- The applications will be reviewed by a board-designated subcommittee that will choose the award winner. A single award will be made each year.ards
- The award winner will be announced February 2026.
Questions should be addressed to Debbie Sobotka, CPSE COO.
Previous Recipients
| 2025 – John Butler, CEMSO, CFO, CTO, FM | 2012 – Barry McKinnon |
| 2024 – Christopher Swift, FO | 2011 – Mike Brown |
| 2023 – Gwen Nieuwdorp | 2010 – Ken Helgerson |
| 2022 – Norma Jean Valdez | 2009 – Mark Puknaitis, CFO |
| 2021 – Christian Jacobs, CEMSO | 2008 – No Award |
| 2020 – Thomas Thompson, CFO | 2007 – Gary Tokle |
| 2019 – Mike Hall, FO | 2006 – Gary Curmode, CFO |
| 2018 – Brad Brown, FO | 2005 – Dennis Gage |
| 2017 – Rob Ugaste, CFO | 2004 – Ronny Coleman, CFO |
| 2016 – No Award | 2003 – Ray Flowers |
| 2015 – Brian Dean, CFO | 2002 – Martel Thompson |
| 2014 – Ernst Piercy, CFO | 2001 – Bill Killen, CFO and Randy Bruegman, CFO |
| 2013 – Cliff Jones, CFO |
This annual award recognizes an individual who exemplifies the ability, character, dedication, leadership, and visionary attributes Chief Picard exhibited. The individual should personify Chief Picard’s contributions and exceptional leadership to the CFAI and the accreditation of fire service organizations.
Eligibility:
Any Peer Assessor, individual member of an accredited agency, former CFAI or CPC Commissioner, and former CPSE board members are eligible to compete for this award. CPSE staff, contractors, and current members of the CPSE board, CPC, or CFAI are ineligible to compete for this award.
Criteria:
Individuals will be assessed for their significant achievements or contributions to the assessment and accreditation process in the following areas:
- Accomplishments (within the accreditation process)
- Initiative (including helping others with the accreditation process)
- Technical competence (including serving as a peer assessor, team leader, or instructor)
- Leadership ability (including spreading the word)
- Additional achievements and contributions
Procedures:
- Applicants must complete the online nomination form and submit electronically by 5 p.m. Eastern on December 15, 2025.
- You might want to download a Word version of the nomination form to fill out offline and then copy-and-paste your responses into the online form.
- Incomplete nomination packages will be rejected.
- The Commission on Fire Accreditation International will review nominations and choose the award winner.
- The award winner will be announce in February 2025.
Questions should be addressed to Debbie Sobotka, CPSE COO.
This form must be filled out and submitted by 5:00 p.m., Eastern, December 15, 2025.
You can download a Word version of this form to fill out offline, then copy-and-paste your responses into this online form for submission.