Steven T. Edwards
Director
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

Steven T. Edwards is the Director of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute of the University of Maryland. The Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute is the state's comprehensive training agency for the emergency services, training over 28,000 students each year. He is a former Fire Chief of the Prince Georges County Fire Department in Maryland where he served for twenty-five years in every position from high school cadet to Fire Chief. Mr. Edwards also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Safety Equipment Institute, Vice Chair of the Congressional Fire Service Institute National Advisory Committee, as well as numerous local and state level appointments. In 1997, he was elected as the President of the North American Fire Training Directors.

Steven Edwards is a graduate of the University of Maryland University College with a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Service Management and a Master's Degree in General Administration. Both degrees were achieved with Summa Cum Laude honors. He has attended the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government "Program for Senior Executives in State and local Government", the National Fire Academy, and presented at national conference and seminars. Mr. Edwards is currently a member of the adjunct faculty at UMUC, and is the author of the textbook Fire Service Personnel Management.

During his career of over 30 years in the fire service, Edwards has received numerous awards and honors, including the Prince George's County Fire Department "Gold Star of Valor" in 1979 for the rescue of two firefighters at a major fire and explosion. During his tenure as Fire Chief the department received the IAFC Award for Excellence as well as twenty-eight National Association of Counties Awards for Excellence. Continuing his fire service career at the University of Maryland, the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute was selected as the Congressional Fire Service Institute National Fire Service Organization of the Year for 1999.