GAITHERSBURG, MD -- The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), the world’s leading professional society for fire protection and fire safety engineering, announces its 2025 class of Fellows and award recipients. 

Fellow membership represents the highest professional honor of SFPE and is bestowed to individuals who have amassed significant accomplishments and stature in fire protection engineering.  SFPE members elevated to the status of Fellow in 2025 include:  

Anthony R. Cole, PE, CFPS, CFEI, FSFPE, SenezCo

William V.F. Cosey, PE, BS ChE, FSFPE, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC

Andrew Grenier, PE, FSFPE, Coffman Engineers 

Michael Klemenz, PE, FSFPE, RAN Fire Protection Engineering, PC 

Katherine A. Pothier, PE, FSFPE, Bowman Fire & Life Safety 

Christine (Christy) Theisen, MS, MBA, PE, FSFPE, Goodhead Consulting Engineers, LLC 

Michael J. Wojcik, PE, FSFPE, Jensen Hughes 

The SFPE “5 Under 35” recipients represent the industry’s top rising leaders who give back to both the fire protection engineering profession and the community.  The 2025 recipients are as follows: 

Brian O’Connor, PE, PMSFPE, NFPA

Charlie Hopkin, PhD, PMSFPE, Ashton Fire

Christopher Wicker, PE, PMSFPE, Coffman Engineers

Dillon Grewing, PE, GSP, PMSFPE, Performance Based Fire Protection Engineering

Jazyah Aldossary, Fire Protection Engineer Pro Board Certified, PMSFPE, Saudi Aramco 

SFPE is pleased to announce ten award recipients in 2025, as follows: 

Kieran Ager, CEng, CFPS, P.Eng, PMSFPE, LMDG, recipient of the SFPE Ahern President’s Award

Shaun Kelly, P.Eng., CEng, IntPE, EUR ING, PMSFPE, Arencon Inc., recipient of the SFPE Ahern President’s Award

Timothy A. DeRuyscher, PE, FSFPE, RAN Fire Protection Engineering, PC, recipient of the SFPE Bryan Mentoring Award

Wojciech Węgrzyński, Prof. ITB, Instytut Techniki Budowlanej, recipient of the SFPE Lund Award for Professional Recognition  

Adam M. Barowy, PMSFPE, UL FSRI, recipient of the SFPE Nelson Award for Inspired Service

William E. Koffel, PE, FSFPE, Koffel Associates, Inc., recipient of the SFPE Jensen Award for Outstanding Committee Service

Prof Richard S. Walls, Stellenbosch University, recipient of the SFPE Lucht Award for Contributions to Education

Nicole Hollywood, M.Ed, University of Maryland, recipient of the SFPE Fire Protection Person of the Year Award

Jake A. Pauls, PMSFPE, Jake Pauls Consulting Services, recipient of the SFPE Trailblazer Award

Craig E. Hofmeister, PE, FSFPE, LEED AP©, The Fire Consultants, Inc., recipient of the SFPE Spotlight Award

Frank J. Ellis, National Fire Sprinkler Association, recipient of the SFPE Spotlight Award

Kieran Ager, CEng, CFPS, P.Eng, PMSFPE, LMDG, recipient of the SFPE Spotlight Award

Vusal Ibrahimli, MASc, EIT, Canadian Wood Council, recipient of the 2025 SFPE Annual Conference Top Abstract Award

Co-authors: Joseph Su, Marc Alam, and Noah Fetterly 

“Each year, SFPE proudly recognizes members whose exceptional achievements have made a lasting impact on the field of fire protection engineering and the global safety community,” said Chris Jelenewicz, PE, FSFPE, Chief Executive Officer of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. “Their contributions are advancing critical science and technology, helping to reduce fire risks worldwide. We commend their leadership, expertise, and unwavering dedication to the profession and to SFPE.” 

The awards will be presented by Amanda Kimball, PE, FSFPE, SFPE President, during the SFPE Annual Conference & Expo in Vancouver, BC, Canada, on October 21-23, 2025; registration for the conference is available at sfpe.org/annual25. Nominations for the Society’s 2026 class of
Fellows and award recipients will be solicited in early 2026.