Media Contact: Mark E. Brady, Public Information Officer, [email protected]
Fire Captain Daniel Peterson of the Chattanooga, Tennessee, Fire Department has been named a recipient of a 2024 Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation (YLD) Scholarship Award. Currently assigned to Research & Planning and serving as the department’s Water Supply Officer, Peterson has been honored with the Chief James G. Yvorra Award for Fire and Emergency Services Responders.
The YLD Scholarship will help Peterson achieve several personal and professional goals. First, he aims to become the first in his family to graduate from college. Additionally, he seeks to leverage his education to enhance both individual and organizational performance. Finally, he is committed to using his experience and education to develop himself and others as future leaders within the Chattanooga Fire Department.
“The Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation is proud to award this scholarship to Fire Captain Peterson. His dedication to self-improvement and departmental advancement is truly commendable,” said Michael Hildebrand, President of the YLD Foundation.
One of Peterson’s most significant contributions to the department has been addressing the longstanding issue of out-of-service fire hydrants. Previously, some hydrants remained inoperable for months despite being reported by field personnel. Recognizing the critical nature of this issue, Peterson took action by building relationships with local water companies responsible for hydrant maintenance. He established direct lines of communication and personally followed up on each reported outage, significantly reducing repair times—many hydrants were restored within days of being reported.
In addition to his leadership in infrastructure improvements, Peterson has successfully secured two Assistance to Firefighters Grants through his grant-writing efforts, bringing valuable resources to the department.
The Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) is a fully career department with 439 sworn personnel, staffing 26 frontline apparatus from 20 stations across three battalions. Covering 145 square miles and serving a population of 184,000, CFD has a long history dating back to 1871. Most recently, in July 2024, the department maintained its prestigious ISO Class 1 rating. CFD is led by Fire Chief Phil Hyman, a 28-year veteran dedicated to continuous improvement within the department.
Each year, YLD recognizes emerging and developing leaders in fire, EMS, hazmat, emergency management, and homeland security by awarding scholarships. In 2024, YLD provided a total of $44,000 in scholarships to seven individual recipients and two departments.
The application period for a YLD Scholarship runs from August 1 to October 30. For more information about YLD and its scholarship program, visit YLD.org.