North Carolina Fire Inspector Named National Outstanding Fire Service Professional

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — A desire to help and educate others are two reasons fire inspector Robert McSorley Jr. of Broadway, North Carolina, was chosen by Columbia Southern University (CSU) fire administration faculty recently selected McSorley as the 2024 Outstanding Fire Service Professional of the Year. 

McSorley, who is a student at CSU studying to earn his bachelor’s in fire administration, was also chosen for his efforts as a diplomat in Kabul, Afghanistan, from 2018-2020. McSorley helped the U.S. Embassy’s fire department create a fire education program for adults at the embassy and the citizens of Afghanistan through the Lincoln Learning Centers in Kabul.

In late 2022, McSorley would mimic that success in launching a fire education program based on a STEM approach to help third graders in Orange County, North Carolina. Combining it with the Exit Drill in the Home (EDITH) education program, which teaches how to safely exit a home during a fire, and a talking Sparky mascot, McSorley and his team “had a different and unique program that would get the attention of the kids and some adults. It was the most fun I have experienced as a fire and life safety educator I have had the privilege to do. It's a testament to the power of education and community involvement in making our homes safer.”  

Although he has moved on from that job to his present job of fire inspector within the Fire Marshal Office Division with the Fayetteville Fire Department, he said that the fire education program continues. He added that he comes from family of fire professionals, including his father and grandfather. “I have other family members in different departments nationwide, and my passion for this service resonates inside me,” he said.

The Outstanding Fire Service Professional of the Year award was established as part of National Fire Prevention Week and to recognize CSU fire service students and graduates for their commitment to fire safety, professionalism and their accomplishments in the industry. 

For more information about CSU, visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu. 

About Columbia Southern University
As an innovator in online education, CSU was established in 1993 to provide an alternative to the traditional university experience for today’s adult learner. CSU offers online associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs such as business administration, criminal justice, fire administration and occupational safety and health. Visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu or call (877) 347-6050 to learn more.