Fire Officer Academy 25-02 award winners announced

October 10, 2025

The Fire Officer Academy: The Company Officer 25-02 was held September 28-October 3, 2025. Acceptance into the program is extremely competitive; applicants go through two rounds of the selection process before the roster is finalized. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work to be selected to attend.

After the roster is finalized and students are on campus at the South Carolina Fire Academy, the intangible magic of the FOA begins to weave its way through the class. It is something better experienced than explained.

As the program has grown, it has become increasingly important to the instructor cadre and alumni to recognize students who set themselves apart during the week. Two awards are given at Fire Officer Academy graduation, the David Lee Crenshaw “Big Dummy” Leadership Award and the James Michael Muller “The J” Award for Excellence.

David Crenshaw was Pendleton Fire Chief for over two decades and served the people of Anderson County in a number of ways, including time as Anderson County Sheriff, Magistrate Judge, and member of Pendleton City Council. Chief Crenshaw died in the line of duty on January 9, 2012.

Clemson University Fire and EMS Captain Ben Crenshaw is a graduate of FOA 22-01, the first-ever class of the Fire Officer Academy, and the son of Chief Crenshaw. The last morning of FOA PT ends at the Firefighter Memorial Plaza where Captain Crenshaw tells the story of his father’s legacy. This award is presented to a student of the Fire Officer Academy selected by their peers for displaying exemplary skill, attitude, and leadership throughout the class.

The FOA 25-02 David Lee Crenshaw “Big Dummy” Leadership Award recipient is City of Greer Fire Department Lieutenant Tyler Collins.

“My week started off pretty rocky, so for my classmates to vote for me is humbling,” Lt. Collins stated. “My goal when I have interactions with people is to make them feel as if they are the most important person in the room. I think that instills a form of trust. I think that’s important when adversity hits because people know you value what they feel, how they feel, and they know they can look to you because of that built trust. I tried my best to be a positive light for everyone knowing that we were all going through a rough time.”

“I’m honored to carry on the legacy of what David Lee Crenshaw exuded on a daily basis,” Lt. Collins concluded.

Irmo Fire District firefighter James Michael “J” Muller was a graduate of Fire Officer Academy 23-01 held the first week in March 2023. Seventy-seven short days after graduating from the FOA, J died in the line of duty on May 26, 2023.

It was evident from the moment you met J that he was 100 percent into the job and he loved it with all his heart. His impact on the FOA is indescribable. The James Michael Muller “The J” Award for Excellence was established during the FOA 23-02 program and presented to Summerville Fire-Rescue Chief of Training Chris Tennyson. This award is given to the student of the FOA for being the most proficient and professional candidate of the class. The award recipient is selected by the instructor cadre and given to the student who embodies J’s spirit and shows exceptional skill, consistent attitude, and overall proficiency throughout the week.

The recipient of the FOA 25-02 James Michael Muller “The J” Award for Excellence is Greenville City Fire Department Lieutenant Erik Lindberg.

“I felt absolutely honored to be selected by the cadre for the James Michael Muller Award,” Lt. Lindberg commented. “We all were trying to grow in our skills or fail trying and then trying again. We exposed our vulnerabilities and weaknesses, and we made the choice to try and get better. Failure isn’t about falling short or being unsuccessful, it’s the refusal to try again. Every shortcoming is another opportunity to try again until you do succeed. So long as you keep trying, you won’t fail.”

“While it feels good to be recognized for an accomplishment or achievement, to me this award is a calling to improve,” Lt. Lindberg continued. “I have many shortcomings, whether it’s physical, mental, spiritual, or egotistical, there’s room for improvement. When I see that plaque with J’s name on it, it’s a calling to find something for me and my crew to get better at and do it.”

Applications for FOA 26-01, March 8-13, 2026, close October 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

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