Zahra Harvey Is FireRescue’s Company Officer of the Year

Captain Zahra Harvey of the Fayetteville (N.C.) Fire/Emergency Management Department was presented FireRescue magazine’s Company Officer of the Year Award during this morning’s general session at Fire-Rescue International in Chicago.

Presenting the award was Editor-in-Chief Tim Sendelbach, who noted that Captain Harvey demonstrates everything FireRescue is looking for in a next-generation leader. Reading from her nomination, Sendelbach explained one of the reasons Harvey was selected for the prestigious award, which is sponsored by American Military University (AMU): “Safety is not just a catch phrase to Captain Harvey. She lives it, and the people around her crew know it and practice it. I have never seen an officer more dedicated to the success and advancement of her crew. She puts 100% of herself in everything she does and inspires others around her to do the same. Captain Harvey doesn’t look for praise and frequently dodges it even when well earned.”

Noting that she was going to have to handle a little praise today, Sendelbach outlined some of Harvey’s accomplishments:
–    Her crew trains constantly and in a variety of conditions.
–    Her RIT training is dreaded by the new recruit classes because of her reputation for training hard under real conditions, and demanding the best from each recruit.
–    She leads the city’s Peer Fitness Training program.
–    She is a strong, sometimes brutally honest, yet respectful communicator, never leaving doubts about her expectations–but she’s also a great listener
–    The officer in charge of large-scale events will often call upon her to assist with command and investigating the incident afterward due to her extensive knowledge of fire causes.
–    She makes herself available to each member of her crew and others as they move forward in their career, taking a personal interest in their advancement.
–    She works with Silent Heroes, a club of firefighters who ride motorcycles. They attend funerals and memorials and represent the fire service in honoring fallen brothers and sisters.

Sendelbach was joined on stage by Battalion Chief James McLaughlin, the Fire and Emergency Education Coordinator for AMU, and Stephan Cox, the chair for the Commission on Professional Credentialing with the Center for Public Safety Excellence. He thanked AMU for their generous sponsorship of the award, as well as CPSE for offering Harvey a scholarship that covers the cost of its Fire Officer credentialing and designation program.

Sendelbach also thanked Liberty Art Works for donating the physical award–the speaking trumpet, which he noted is an important symbol of authority within the fire service. “The trumpet stands for leadership and the responsibility an officer has to those under their command,” he said. “It signifies the importance of effective communications, company-level motivation and coordination by the company officer on scene and at the station.”

Captain Harvey started volunteering in 1996 after witnessing firefighters turn chaos into order at a difficult extrication scene. An 18-wheeler struck a passenger car, and the rig overturned. She joined the Fayetteville Fire/Emergency Management Department in 1997, and was promoted to captain in 2005.

As Company Officer of the Year, Captain Harvey receives a $1,000 cash award plus airfare, accommodations, and registration to FRI conference.