My wife Erla Ingimarsdóttir and I during the reception at the Hall of Fame.
Name: Haraldur Stefánsson
Employment: May 1955 to May 2005. 19 Years as Fire Chief NAS KEF. Total fire end emrgency service 50 years with the US. Navy.
Date and place of birth: 22 January 1937, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Spouse’s name: Erla lngimarsdottir.
Names and ages of children: Mr. Ragnar, born 1960; Mrs. Solveig, 1963; Mr. Haraldur, 1971; Mrs. Ingibjorg, 1974.
Position:
a. Fire Chief and Airfield Operations Director PU-13/GS 13 equivalent. DOD and Nationally Certified Fire Officer IV, holder of numerous certificates of education and training including Fire Protection Management of Oklahoma State University and University of Maryland.
b. Fire and Emergency Services Department and Airfield Operations of U.S. Naval Air Station Keflavik International Airport, Iceland.
c. The Fire Chief of Naval Air Station Keflavik is a Department Head with authority equivalent to a full commander in the U.S. Navy. He is responsible to the Commanding Officer for the management, operational readiness, and supervision of the fire protection and prevention programs of the Naval Air Station, including its tenant activities the International Airport and smaller outlying installations under the jurisdiction and responsibility of the Commander, Iceland, Defense Force. Represents the Commanding Officer with Government of Iceland officials, local community officials and various organizations in conducting his duties in respect of the Iceland/US defense agreement concerning the Keflavik Airport fire protection and airfield operations services. He develops, coordinates, and implements programs, policies, and procedures and serves as a technical advisor to the command on matters pertaining to structural fire protection, aircraft crash fire rescue, fire prevention, airfield snow and ice removal and control, air cargo, arresting gear, transient line, and serves as a permanent member of the agreed area building committee. He is the airfield FOD prevention officer where the control of bird congregation is a target and enormous ground FOD potential threatens aircraft.
As a result of the National attention given this program, the Naval Air Station has participated in conferences where Chief Stefansson has presented the techniques which have proven so successful in fire Prevention and Airfield Snow and Ice control, and bird aircraft hazard control.
Brief summary service highlights.
For exceptionally outstanding and impeccable service in developing an unsurpassed Fire Prevention program, a superb crash-fire-rescue effort, and unmatched excellence in airfield snow and ice control procedures. The Fire Chief’s unmatched accomplishments include a fire prevention program recognized as the finest in the Department of Defense and the perfection of snow and ice removal control techniques providing NAS Keflavik with “dry runways” consistently during some of the worst winters of the century, while all other fields in Iceland and Northern Europe were closed. A brilliant manager, Fire Chief Stefansson’s extraordinary achievements are an extreme benefit to the United States Navy, the Department of Defense and the United States as a whole, deserving a special recognition.
Fire Chief Haraldur Stefansson’s dynamic presence in his key role at Naval Air Station, Keflavik is felt in the most positive manner by the Operational Forces that rely on the Airfield at Naval Air Station, Keflavik for service essential to the completion of their critically important operational missions. The men and women who reside on NAS Keflavik are equally fortunate to enjoy the benefits of the finest fire prevention and protection programs in North American a program inspired and carried out by Fire Chief Stefansson.
The NAS Keflavik Fire Department we, awarded the 1980 Grand Award in the “Learn not to burn” Competition, sponsored by the National fire Protection Association The award was obtained in competition with over 720 municipalities, industries, and government facilities throughout North America and marked the first time it was won by a DoD installation.
Presented with U.S. Navy recognition for consistent top honors in the Navy and Marine Corps. “Ogden” competition for outstanding Fire and Emergency Service.
Resume of Awards or Honors.
a. Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award October 1974.
b. Special award for improvement of P-2 crash fire trucks March 1987.
c. The U.S. Naval Air Station, Fire Department under supervision of Deputy and now fire Chief Stefansson has been awarded the following awards by the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Fire Protection Associations.
d. The Navy Superior Civilian Service Award in October 1992.
e. Icelandic Government COMMENDATION: For outstanding contribution to fire and civil disaster protection in Iceland, Aviation safety and strengthening of the defense cooperation between Iceland and the United States of America, and other members of NATO.
f. The U.S. Naval Air Station, Fire and Emergency Services Department under supervision of deputy and now Fire Chief Stefansson has been awarded the following by the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps., and the Icelandic Government.
g. Awarded by the Iceland State Fire Commissioner for Prosperous pioneering work in Fire Prevention and protection In Iceland through the years.
H. By the president of Iceland 2003 the Knights cross of the order of the Falcon.
1964 Letter of commendation.
1965 Honorable mention, Group II (3rd place).
1966 First Place, group II.
1967 Commendation.
1968 Honorable Mention, Group II (3rd place).
1969 Third place, Group II.
1971 Grand Award, USN.
1972 Honorable mention, Group II (4th place).
1973 First place, Group II.
1974 Second place, Group II.
1975 First place, Group II.
1977 Outstanding entry, 1st place, DOD, $500.
1978 Outstanding entry, 1st place, DOD, $300.
1979 Outstanding entry, 1st place, DOD, $500.
1980 Grand Award, USA and Canada.
1983 Ogden Competition participation.
1984 Ogden Competition participation.
1987 Ogden Competition participation.
1988 First runner-up Ogden Competition.
1989 Ogden Competition participation.
1990 Second Runner-up Ogden Competition.
1991 Third Runner-up Ogden Competition U.S. Navy Fire Protection and Marine Corps.
1992 Second runner-up Ogden competition.
1993 First runner-up Ogden Competition.
1993 U.S. Navy Commendation for outstanding service.
1994 Second runner-up Ogden competition.
1995 U.S. Navy Commendation for outstanding service.
1995 First runner-up Ogden Competition.
1996 First runner-up Ogden Competition.
1996 Commander Naval Facilities Engineering Command Recognition for Excellence and Professional Achievement Award.
1996 International Association of Fire Chiefs, Life Safety Achievement Award.
1997 International Association of Fire Chiefs, Life Safety Achievement Award.
1997 Winner Ogden Competition Large Category Structural Department U.S. Navy and Marine corps.
1998 International Association of Fire Chiefs, Life Safety Achievement Award.
1998 Overall winner Structural large category Ogden competition U.S. Navy and Marine corps.
1999 International Association of Fire Chiefs, Life Safety Achievement Award.
2000 Overall Winner large structural and crash fire protection department U.S. Navy and Marine corps.
2000 International Association of Fire Chiefs, Life Safety Achievement Award
2000 International Fire accreditation by the world commission on accreditation.
NAS Keflavik one of three DOD accredited agencies of fire and emergency services.
2001 International Association of Fire Chiefs, Life Safety Achievement Award.
2001 Fire Department of the year 2001 designated in the Navy for the DOD (Department of Defense) competition for department of the year.
2002 First place winner outstanding Fire and Emergency Services US Navy and Marine Corps. Structural large category.
2002 First runner up Fire and Emergency Services Department of the Navy.
2003 Overall Winner large structural and crash fire protection department U.S. Navy and Marine corp.
