QUINCY, MA -- The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF or Foundation), the research affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), has announced the selection of two new trustees: Josh Brackett, corporate regulatory director of facilities at Banner Health, and Kevin Sehlmeyer, Michigan State fire marshal and director of the Bureau of Fire Services. 

Josh Brackett, PE, CHFM, FASHE, is the corporate regulatory director of facilities at Banner Health, where he leads efforts to reduce unnecessary life safety features and leverage innovative alternative compliance methods. In addition, as the co-founder of Legacy FM, Brackett dedicates himself to empowering healthcare facilities teams through tailored education and training.

Brackett is currently pursuing a JD at Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law, as he aspires to influence federal policy, reform industry standards, and drive national code reform. He also actively engages with numerous ASHE, NFPA, and ASHRAE committees, driving innovation and continuous improvement in healthcare facilities management.

Brackett began his career in fire protection design at a national engineering firm, gaining a robust foundation in codes and standards. This expertise fueled his contributions to the Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs Committees at the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE), where he built a nationwide network. Transitioning to a fire protection contracting company, he established regulatory processes and procedures for hospitals across Arkansas and neighboring states. At Baptist Health, Arkansas’ largest health care organization, he led initiatives in regulatory compliance, energy management, and process improvement.

Kevin Sehlmeyer, the Michigan State fire marshal and director of the Bureau of Fire Services, serves as the first vice president of the International Fire Marshals Association, member of the Vision 20/20 Advisory Council, and member of the Firefighter Cancer Cohort Study advisory group. In addition, he represents the National Association of State Fire Marshals on the International Code Council Battery and Energy Storage Ad Hoc Committee. Through these advisory roles and others, Sehlmeyer has gained valuable insights into emerging trends and actively contributes to expanding community risk reduction (CRR) efforts, advocating for enhanced fire codes and promoting life safety.

With more than three decades of dedicated fire service leadership, Sehlmeyer has driven impactful advancements in firefighter safety, health and wellness, and emergency preparedness. A frequent keynote speaker at national and state conferences, he continues to be a dedicated advocate for advancing firefighter safety while strengthening community resilience.

In his current role, Sehlmeyer leads 94 employees at the Bureau of Fire Services and passionately oversees MI Prevention, a nationally recognized, leading statewide CRR program. MI Prevention provides support and logistics for more than 700 fire departments and community organizations by offering guidance and engineered resources towards coordinated CRR initiatives. These efforts include fire and safety education and the distribution of smoke alarms and CO detectors for installation during home safety visits, all with the goal of promoting early warning, to foster a quicker escape from fires for Michigan’s 10 million residents.

The FPRF is a separate, independent, nongovernmental organization with its own officers and nine trustees. The FPRF Board of Trustees manages the overall business of the Foundation, including providing fiduciary oversight, and delivers input and guidance for strategic planning, research priorities, and future growth of the Foundation. 

The Foundation effectively plans and manages a few dozen projects at any given time and communicates findings in support of the NFPA mission. Over the last 40 years, FPRF research reports have been downloaded by safety-focused practitioners in more than 160 countries. Projects cover everything from fire suppression systems, emergency response, public policy, public education, and detection and signaling, to industrial hazards, wildfire, electrical, and building safety.