IAFC’s most prestigious award recognizes spirit of service, courage, and heroism within the fire and emergency service.
McLean, Va. - The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Ben Franklin Award for Valor. This program is named for one of the first fire chiefs in the United States, Benjamin Franklin. An inventor, statesman and humanitarian, Mr. Franklin was a prime contributor to the wealth of tradition that symbolizes the fire and emergency service worldwide.
Presented annually at Fire-Rescue International (FRI) by the IAFC and Motorola Solutions, the award honors a firefighter(s) for their expert training, professional service and dedication to duty displayed via actions that saved human life. Equally importantly, the program helps raise public awareness and support for the fire and emergency service.
"Motorola Solutions is proud to sponsor the esteemed 2025 IAFC Ben Franklin Award for Valor. The bravery, commitment, and heroic actions highlighted in these stories of service and protection are unparalleled," said Frank Galvin, President of Central Region Sales at Motorola Solutions. "We are honored to be involved in recognizing such an extraordinary individual with this award."
All active firefighters, career or volunteer, are eligible for award consideration, whether the event occurred while on or off duty. They must be nominated by their fire chief during the time of the incident.
Nomination Process
An individual or a team of up to four may be nominated. The chief must submit the nomination via the nomination link. The incident must have occurred between April 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, to qualify for consideration. All nominations are reviewed by a committee of IAFC members.
The 2025 nomination period closes May 9, at 11:59 PM ET. Winner and regret notifications will be issued in July.
The winners will be announced Monday, August 1, 2025, and honored on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Fire-Rescue International in Orlando, Florida.
For more information, please contact Olga Butler, Director of Communications at 571-647-6930 or obutler@iafc.org.
Submit a Nomination
About the International Association of Fire Chiefs
The IAFC represents the leadership of firefighters and emergency responders worldwide. IAFC members are the world’s leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous response, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its members to exchange ideas, develop professionally and uncover the latest products and services available to first responders. Learn more at iafc.org.
About Motorola Solutions
Motorola Solutions is a global leader in public safety and enterprise security. Our solutions in land mobile radio communications, video security & access control and command center software, bolstered by managed & support services, create an integrated technology ecosystem to help make communities safer and businesses stay productive and secure. At Motorola Solutions, we’re ushering in a new era in public safety and security. Learn more at motorolasolutions.com.