Thought Leadership Essay Contest
firefighter health, wellness, and safety?
Four years ago, we asked a simple question: What happens when you give firefighters a real platform to write about what truly matters in their profession? Inspired by the U.S. Naval Institute’s long-standing essay tradition, we set out to build something similar for the fire service.
Since then, contributors have tackled leadership from the company officer’s perspective, recruitment and diversity, resistance to change, and, most recently, the mental health burdens too many firefighters carry home after every shift. Each year, more than 90 submissions move through three rounds of peer-reviewed evaluation by chiefs, researchers, and practitioners who read every word with care.
We believe writing is an act of leadership. Firefighters have strong viewpoints shaped by experience. This contest simply gives them a platform to share those ideas with the profession.
All you need is a point of view and the willingness to put it in front of readers who may challenge it. Winners present at events like the Texas A&M Leadership Conference and FRI get published across major fire service media and receive cash awards.
This year’s question is: How can artificial intelligence improve firefighter health, wellness, and safety? AI is already making its way into firehouses – sometimes planned, sometimes not – and the people best suited to influence how it’s used are those on the front lines.
Prizes
- 1st place – $3,000
- 2nd place – $2,000
- 3rd place – $1,000
Recognition on Inside Darley video series, Darley Times newsletter, Darley media distribution, partner publications, and the InService Podcast
Essay Format
- Length: 3 to 4 pages (not including cover page).
- Format: 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins.
- File Format: Submit as a PDF.
- Naming Convention: Save as LastName_ FirstName_ Essay2025.pdf
- Cover Page: Include name, title, and contact information (not counted in page total).
Prompt
How can artificial intelligence improve firefighter health, wellness, and safety?
Grading Rubric
There are four criteria for essay grading. Ranked and weighted in importance.
- Specific Solutions Offered – Do you present specific recommendations for change? How innovative, impactful, and viable are the proposed solutions?
- Potential Impact on the Fire Service – Can this impact the fire service in the short and long term? Can this concept move the fire service forward in a positive manner?
- Quality of Writing – How is the essay structure, vocabulary, readability, and overall authorship?
- Intangibles – Is this exciting? Does it challenge preexisting assumptions? Does it invoke a thought-provoking discussion? Is the core message courageous?
Judges
Dr. Burton Clark
National Fire Academy (Retired)
Management Science Chair, American Fire Culture
Nick Russo
FEMA (Retired)
Assistant Director-Office of Federal Disaster Coordination
Vincent B Davis
Feeding America, Senior Director of Disaster Services
LaRae Smiley-Sliger
LaRae Smiley-Sliger, Women in Fire, Emergency Management Director at Hardin County Fire/EMA
Dr. Lindsay Judah
NFFF Fellow, 2023 Essay Winner
Kerry Henderson
James City County Fire, Battalion Chief
2022 Essay Winner
Demond Simmons
Oakland Fire, Deputy Chief
Dr. Danny Kistner
Fire (Retired), Fire Chief
Anthony James
Pasadena Fire Department, Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal
Bertral Washington
San Bernadino County Fire, Deputy Fire Chief
Jamie Howarth
Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Battalion Chief
2024 Essay Winner
Terri Reid
Baltimore County, EMS Shift Commander
Kory Pearn
Editor in Chief CRACKYL Media
Judge's Quotes
“Darley Essay contest is one way to bring out critical thinkers who will examine specific issues and challenge the fire service to do something that might upset the status quo. The nominees are all practitioners who may actually be working through some of the issues identified by the papers. Each of the authors did complete significant research to validate their paper in a very limited time.”
– Judge John Buckman
“This year’s topic choices were challenging. After reading through numerous essays it is clear that the solutions to hiring, retaining, and ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace are complex. Anecdotal evidence will no longer suffice and agencies must start relying on research and data to find out what is truly working/not working in our industry to make sure we retain our best employees.”
– Judge Kerry Henderson
“Reading these essays provided me proof that there are several thoughts and ideas developing across the country toward building firefighter workforces that reflect the communities we serve. As these strategies are implemented by fire service leaders, we will begin to see continued improvement of our services and our people that provide them.”
– Judge Bertral Washington
Thought Leadership Essay Contest Winners
We would like to congratulate everyone who dared to submit an essay, and especially spotlight the top 3 winners for 2025. Enjoy reading these essays, and please share your thoughts on the insights they provide.
1st Place
Marc Wysocki
Captain
Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department (MA)
Essay
Behind the Mask: Uncovering the Root Causes of
Mental Health Challenges in the Fire Service
2nd Place
Marc Revere
Fire Chief, Retired
Mountain View & Monterey Park Fire Department (CA)
Essay
What Doesn’t Kill You Will Haunt You
3rd Place
John Murphy
Deputy Fire Chief, Retired
Eastside Fire and Rescue
Fire Commissioner (WA)
Essay
“Why” Behind Mental Health Challenges in the Fire
Service:
Are Firefighters So Unique?
Sweepstakes/Contest Disclaimer
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C, you must be 18 years and older. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Entry in the Sweepstakes or Contest constitutes your full and unconditional acceptance of these Official Rules.
CONTEST PERIOD: Darley reserves the right to end the contest at any time. Winners will be selected from entries properly submitted and timely received during the Contest Period.
CONTEST ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS: During the Contest Period, you may submit one entry, and one entry only.
PRIZE: The Prize will be delivered to the winning entrant’s address or at the sole option and discretion of the contest sponsor to a recipient designated by the contest winner.
PARTICIPANT OBLIGATIONS: By participating in the Contest, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor. By accepting the prize, the winner agrees to release and hold Darley and affiliates harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, rights, claims, actions and liabilities of any kind in connection with the Contest or receipt or redemption of the prize.
GENERAL RULES: By entering or participating in the Contest, participants agree for their submission to be used for marketing purposes and to be bound by these Official Rules, and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects.