Ray Picard Award

2025 Ray Picard Award Recipient

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