Alexander Maranghides, a fire researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal.
This recognition is a testament to Maranghides’ extensive 25-year career dedicated to investigating and understanding destructive wildfires, as well as developing strategies to safeguard both people and property from these disasters.
Presented by the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, the awards honor federal employees who make significant contributions to national well-being.
Annually, around 30 outstanding individuals are chosen from a vast workforce of two million federal employees.
Known colloquially as the ‘Sammies’, these awards celebrate those whose work leads to substantial improvements in public service.
Maranghides has focused his research on community-level wildfire impacts, with a commitment to detailed studies of full-scale incidents.
His in-depth analysis of the 2018 Camp Fire in California exemplifies this, involving interviews with emergency responders, comprehensive disaster mapping, and an extensive report spanning over 1,000 pages.
The research delved into critical questions such as the reasons behind structural failures during the fire, the mechanisms of fire spread, and the effectiveness of evacuation warnings for residents.
NIST highlights that the insights gained from Maranghides’ work serve as a foundation for enhancing public safety protocols.
The resulting findings have led to the creation of two key programs: the Hazard Mitigation Methodology (HMM) and the Evacuation and Sheltering Considerations — Assessment, Planning, and Execution (ESCAPE).
The HMM focuses on structural protection strategies, including measures to prevent embers from entering buildings and best practices for safely storing combustible materials.
Meanwhile, the ESCAPE program equips communities with tools for effective emergency planning, offering guidance on creating safe evacuation routes and temporary refuge areas.
Both programs were developed through engagement with affected communities and are already being implemented in areas that face high wildfire risks.
Maranghides expressed that these two initiatives are the most significant contributions of his career, underscoring their importance in enhancing safety against wildfires.
Joannie Chin, Director of NIST’s Engineering Laboratory, praised Maranghides, stating that he possesses an exceptional ability to distill vital lessons from wildfire events.
Chin emphasized that he effectively communicates these lessons to state and local officials, empowering them to devise tailored solutions for their communities.
The award not only honors Maranghides but also encapsulates the broader role of federal agencies in disaster risk reduction initiatives.
NIST is involved in a variety of hazard management efforts, extending its expertise to various threats including hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes, further amplifying their commitment to public safety.
In 2024, researchers Marc Levitan and Long Phan were similarly honored for their work on developing tornado-resistant building codes, showcasing NIST’s ongoing dedication to improving safety standards.
The selection committee for the award comprises distinguished members drawn from different sectors, including government, media, academia, and private industry.
Named after businessman Samuel J. Heyman, who championed public service advancement, these medals acknowledge public servants committed to making the United States ‘better, safer, and stronger’.
For those interested in more detailed information about the Service to America Medals and their recipients, a comprehensive overview can be found on the Service to America website.
image source from：internationalfireandsafetyjournal
