Fire Officer Academy 26-02 award winners announced

October 7, 2026

The Fire Officer Academy: The Company Officer 26-02 was held September 27-October 2, 2026. 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.

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.

For the first time in program history, the same student was selected for both awards. Greenville City Fire Department Captain Joshua Yale is the 26-02 recipient of both the David Lee Crenshaw “Big Dummy” Leadership Award and the James Michael Muller “The J” Award for Excellence.

“It’s incredibly humbling to receive these awards,” Captain Yale reflected. “I’ve done a lot of reflecting on what they mean to me, and honestly, I’m still overwhelmed by the emotions that come with it. I’ve been very fortunate throughout my career to be surrounded by great leaders who have challenged me, pushed me to grow, and invested in me. I see these awards as a reflection of that investment. The credit doesn’t belong to me alone, it represents all the people who have poured into me, believed in me, and helped shape the leader I am today. To have that recognized in this way means more to me than I can really put into words.”

When asked about advice for the upcoming 27-01 cohort, Captain Yale said, “Take the time to enjoy every second of it. Enjoy the struggles and the hard days, enjoy the easy days, and most importantly, enjoy the people around you. You’re going to have the best of the best instructing you, challenging you, and pushing you to become better. Take advantage of every opportunity they give you and soak it all in. It goes by faster than you think, so embrace the challenge, trust the process, and enjoy the ride. You’ll look back on it and realize just how special this experience really was.”

Applications for FOA 27-01, February 28-March 5, 2027, close October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.