The Committee on Accreditation (COA) is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the National Professional Qualifications System.
The COA reviews applications for accreditation, re-Accreditation, and extension requests; conducts initial accreditation and re-accreditation site visit evaluations; collectively approves or denies requests for accreditation or changes to accredited processes; renders opinions to ensure that there is consistency across the Pro Board system; and, ensures compliance with the operating procedures of the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications.
The Advisory Committee elects seven members and one alternate to the COA and the Board of Directors appoints the remaining members. Members representing the Advisory Committee are elected in alternating years for three-year terms and they may be elected to successive terms. Members serving at the pleasure of the Board of Directors are appointed annually. The Chair of the Advisory Committee, a member of the Board of Directors, shall also serve on the COA in an ex-officio advisory capacity. The newly elected Chair could also stand for election as a full member of the COA.
The COA meets in-person at least every four months and meets via teleconference phone as needed but no less than once in between the in-person meetings.
Committee on Accreditation Members
Brian R. Brauer
COA Chair
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL 61802
brbrauer@theproboard.org
Robert W. Rand
COA Vice Chair & Accreditation Manager
Westborough, MA 01581
rrand@theproboard.org
John Culbertson
Advisory Committee Chair & COA Member
Montana State University Fire Service Training
Great Falls, MT 59404
john.culbertson@montana.edu
Jane Duncan
COA Member
STARS Air Ambulance (retired)
janeduncan@shaw.ca
Steve Gervais
COA Member
Lafayette, LA 70506
stevegervais@bellsouth.net
Martinez Jacobs
COA Member
HIDOT Airports
Honolulu, HI 96819-1800
martinez.jacobs@hawaii.gov
Tracey L. Johnson
COA Member
University of Illinois Fire Service Institute
Champaign, IL
tjohnsn@illinois.edu
Alan E. Joos, EFO, CFO, MS, FIFireE
COA Member
Nebraska State Fire Marshal Agency
Grand Island, NE 68803
alan.joos@nebraska.gov
Michael Lee
COA Member
New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control
Albany, NY 12226
fps.michael.lee@gmail.com
Kevin J. O’Connell
COA Member
Louisville Fire Department (retired)
Louisville, KY 40203
koconnell@theproboard.org
Mark Pare
COA Member
Rhode Island Fire Academy
Exeter, RI 02822
mark.pare@dbr.ri.gov
Vilma Perez-Atwood
COA Member
International Association of Fire Fighters
Washington, DC 20006
vperez-atwood@iaff.org
Fredrick W. Piechota Jr.
COA Member
Brimfield, MA 01057
fwpiechota@icloud.com
Lisa Pine
COA Member
Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
Lakewood, CO 80215
lisa.pine@state.co.us
Andrela Riley
COA Member
South Carolina Fire Academy
Columbia, SC 29203
Andrela.Riley@llr.sc.gov
Alton Robinson
COA Member
U.S. Department of Defense Firefighter Certification System
Tyndall AFB, FL 32403-5319
alton.robinson.4@us.af.mil
Chris Senaratne
COA Member
Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA T6W 1H8
chris.senaratne@lakelandcollege.ca
Daniel Smith
COA Member
The Villages, FL 32163
firechief4@comcast.net
Emma Thomas
COA Member
Colorado Metropolitan Certification Board
Lakewood, CO 80235
ethomas@westmetrofire.org
Matt Sherwood
COA Alternate-1
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
College Station, TX 77845-3424
matt.sherwood@teex.tamu.edus
Tara Youngblood
COA Alternate-2
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078-8041
tyoungblood@osufst.org
Craig Richardson
Technical Analyst
Nanaimo Fire Rescue (retired)
Nanaimo, BC V9R3B5
rcraigrichardson@gmail.com
Ryan Snow
Technical Analyst
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL 61802
ryansnow@theproboard.org
Document Review Teams
| Team A | Team B | Team C |
| O’Connell | Piechota | Perez-Atwood |
| Gervais | Senaratne | Jacobs |
| Riley | Lee | Johnson |
| Duncan | Smith | Joos |
| Pine | Culbertson-ACC | Pare |
| Thomas | Robinson | |
| Sherwood | Youngblood |