1996: Firefighter Thomas Brown Receives “Firefighter of the Year” Award.

Firefighter Thomas E. Brown was honored by the Exchange Club of Stamford as the Stamford Fire Department’s Firefighter of the year for his community service. Firefighter Brown has dedicated the past 22 years as a camp counselor, which began his journey of helping kids at a camp for burned children, a camp sponsored by area burn hospitals and firefighter throughout New England. The International Association of Firefighters awarded Tom as “Camp Counselor of the Year”. In 1996 the Exchange Club of Stamford awarded Tom as “Firefighter of the Year” for his outstanding service to the youth of the community. As a volunteer and mentor, tom was also awarded the “2007” Outstanding Adult Volunteer” by the Volunteer Center of Southwestern Fairfield County for his work with the Stamford Boys and Girls Club.

o assist him, Tom earned a degree in 1994 in Therapeutic Recreation. In 1995 he was the recipient of the Norwalk Community-Technical College Board of Trustees Medallion for Academic Excellence. As well he was inducted as a member of the “National Dean’s List”,18th Edition. Tom was also earned a degree in Fire Technology and Administration in May of 2000.

Tom earned his Bachelorette from Springfield College, graduate school was the next step. Soon followed by several Masters Degrees from the University of New Haven, including a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, 2003, Master’s degree in Labor Relations, 2004, and a Masters in Fire Science-Fire/Arson Investigation, 2006. Tom also received a Graduate Certification in Public safety Management in 2009.
Along the way, Tom received a University of New Haven academic Fellowship, and an induction into “Pi Alpha Alpha”, the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration (June 2005), also an induction into “Sigma Beta Delta”, the International Honor Society in Business, Management, and Administration (May 2003).
Tom was also honored by being named the Norwalk Community College Distinguished Alumni Award at to 2012 Commencement, and was the keynote speaker.

Tom was promoted to the rank of Deputy fire Marshal in 2010, a holds state certifications as A Deputy Fire Marshal, Fire Officer III, Fire Instructor II, Safety Officer, and Emergency Medical Technician. Tom will continue his work at the burn camp, even after he retires from the fire department.