For three days in May, WPI hosted a “Who’s Who in FPE” as the university celebrated the 45th anniversary of its renowned Fire Protection Engineering program. From May 16 to 18, more than 100 industry partners, faculty, staff, and former students gathered for a comprehensive look at FPE’s history, its impact at WPI and beyond, ongoing research, and the future of the field with the dawn of new disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Since its inception in 1979, the program has been a leader in innovation and education, significantly advancing the field of fire protection engineering. As the first university to offer a graduate program in FPE, WPI has also established itself as a premier institution for producing highly skilled practitioners and pioneering new knowledge that enhances global safety.
“As we celebrate this milestone,” said Albert Simeoni, professor and fire protection engineering department head, “we reflect on the incredible journey that began with the vision of Dave Lucht and Bob Fitzgerald. These pioneers’ dedication to excellence shaped not only the FPE curriculum but propelled advancements in life-saving technologies, mitigation techniques, and a new understanding of fire dynamics—notably through the seminal work of Professor Dougal Drysdale from the University of Edinburgh in the UK, who developed the first-ever Fire Dynamics course during a long-term visit, which was made into a textbook and has become a foundational element for fire protection engineers worldwide.”
Over the past 45 years, WPI’s FPE program has grown into a thriving graduate program with a robust research agenda and strong industry partnerships. With more than 1,000 alumni across the globe, WPI's influence is far-reaching, educating leaders in industry and agencies.
Recent groundbreaking research in environmental remediation, wildfires, battery fires, and firefighter safety exemplifies WPI’s commitment to addressing contemporary challenges. Contributions have been recognized by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), and esteemed publications like The New York Times, with whom WPI helped investigate a fatal Bronx, NY, fire.
As we look to the future, we recognize the continued critical need for highly skilled fire protection engineers,” said Bogdan Vernescu, Vice President and Vice Provost for Research and Innovation. “We strive to continue making significant positive impacts, guided by the sustained vision and leadership within our internationally recognized FPE Department, with input and support from our partners. We also aim to attract and retain talented graduate students through fellowships and equip our fire science lab to tackle the most pressing fire-related problems.
“With continued industry support, WPI can expand its student pipeline and continue to produce exceptional FPE graduates who will lead work to advance safety and sustainability for future generations,” said John McNeill, the Bernard M. Gordon Dean of WPI’s School of Engineering. “These are indeed exciting times for Fire Protection Engineering, and at WPI we are ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”
WPI and FM Global sign MOU to strengthen workforce development, research, and philanthropic support.
To underscore the importance of industry support, during the celebration WPI and FM Global, one of the world's largest commercial property insurance companies and longstanding FPE industry partner, signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) reinforcing a collaboration surrounding workforce development, research, and philanthropic support. In addition, the annual Howard Emmons Lecture Award was given to Dr. Sergey Dorofeev, vice president and research area director, fire hazards and protection at FM Global. Named after Professor Howard Emmons, an early pioneer in fire research and safety science, this award recognizes global leaders in fire research and education, encouraging them to share their work with the WPI community.
“We are proud of Sergey’s accomplishments and congratulate him for this prestigious award,” said Dr. Louis Gritzo, chief science officer at FM Global. “We are also very appreciative of our longtime partnership with the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which is helping to prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers, and business leaders through its leading curriculum and academic approach of project-based learning.”
