FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 23, 2000

Fairbanks, Alaska - University of Alaska Fairbanks Safety Services Director Mike Supkis has completed the U.S. Fire Administration's executive fire officer program, earning the equivalent to a master's degree in fire administration. Supkis, who also serves as chief of UAF's fire department, is one of only a handful of Alaskan fire officials to complete the highly competitive four-year program.

To apply for the program, fire administrators must have a bachelor's degree and extensive fire experience. Participants then complete specialized coursework at the National Fire Academy's emergency training center in Emmitsburg, Md. Students then apply what they've learned to their home communities by designing and implementing four applied research projects.

As part of his training, Supkis completed classes in executive development, change management, systematic analysis of community risk reduction and fire department leadership. His first applied research project examined how community members perceive fire education and safety efforts, and how fire departments can improve customer service to their fire districts.

Supkis completed projects analyzing Alaskan fire deaths, creating a change-management model for fire departments to use when undergoing organizational change during public safety consolidations, and studying communications effectiveness during a disaster response.

Since 1996, Supkis has overseen UAF's fire department operations, including management of medical, fire and rescue, and hazardous materials emergency incidents. University firefighters serve the campus community plus almost 22,000 people who live in the 22-square-mile University Fire Service District area.

UFD is also one of the only departments in the nation that provides highly technical training for student firefighters and has a current waitlist of about 50 students. Assistant Chief Mike Holzmueller and Battalion Chief Phil Rounds have also received certification from the National Fire Academy, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

As safety services director, Supkis also manages the UAF police and risk management departments. Before coming to UAF, Supkis spent 11 years as a fire chief in Oregon and Idaho. He has also worked as a fire service instructor, emergency medical technician and firefighter.

In addition to his management experience, Supkis holds certification in a variety of specialized areas, ranging from fire law to railroad hazardous material tank car response. He received a bachelor's degree in forest resource management from the University of Idaho in 1980 and an associate degree in fire science two years later at the College of Southern Idaho.

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JCS/2-23-00/00-051