The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s Advocates/Fellows program, formerly known as the “EGH Advocates Program,” has evolved to include a new name and new leadership. This important component of NFFF’s Fire Programs is now known as the “Fire Programs Outreach and Education Program” to better reflect the group’s mission. The program has also welcomed new leadership: Chief (ret.) Daniel Kistner from Van Alstyne (TX) as the Lead Coordinator and Deputy Chief (ret.) John Kane from Syracuse (NY) as the Deputy Coordinator.

Chief Kistner is a highly respected 40-year veteran of the fire service. Following his passion, he has been conferred a Doctor of Liberal Studies Degree in Cultural Change and a fellowship to Harvard’s Kennedy School, Senior Executives in State and Local Government program. Kistner was one of the original NFFF Life Safety Advocates and served as the first Regional Advocate for Region VI. During his fire service career, he championed causes that resulted in the creation of an advisory committee for Texas fire service regulators on firefighter health and wellness and a requirement for all Texas firefighters to complete the NFFF’s Courage to Be Safe program.

Chief Kane has been an NFFF Advocate for nearly six years and has taught the NFFF flagship programs across upstate New York. He retired from the Syracuse FD in 2022 after twenty-one years, with his last assignment being deputy chief of special operations. He recently led a community college program where he successfully assisted in getting the program IFSAC-accredited and FESHE-aligned before taking on the role of deputy coordinator of the Advocates/Fellows program.

As Chiefs Kistner and Kane settle into their new roles, NFFF extends our thanks to Rick Best and Ben West, the previous leadership team. Rick and Ben were instrumental in the growth of the Advocate program and have been essential players for NFFF’s Fire Programs.