Instructor Of The Year

It is with great pride and respect that we announce Chief Donald Burns as the recipient of this year’s Instructor of the Year Award—a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding dedication to fire service education and professional development.

​

Chief Burns brings more than 19 years of experience to the fire service, with an extensive teaching background that has influenced personnel not only within the Wilmington Fire Department but throughout the state of North Carolina. In his role as Chief of Training and Safety, he has been instrumental in shaping the department’s educational strategy and training standards. Notably, he developed the WFD Company Officer Certificate Program, providing a structured and accessible advancement path for personnel—many of whom may not have pursued a traditional college route.

​

His instructional reach extends far beyond Wilmington. Chief Burns has served as a respected speaker and educator at numerous regional seminars, focusing on firefighter training, leadership development, and technical operations. As a Certified Blue Card Instructor, trained in Phoenix, Arizona, he leads incident command training both within his department and across neighboring jurisdictions. His popular “Tactical Mondays” program, featuring graded command simulations, has become a cornerstone of practical, scenario-based learning in the region.

​

Chief Burns is not only committed to elevating training standards locally, but he also envisions expanding his influence on a statewide and national level. His teaching consistently emphasizes leadership, technical mastery, and firefighter wellness—core values that define his philosophy and resonate deeply with those he instructs.

​

This award stands as a testament to Chief Burns’s innovative approach to instruction, his unwavering commitment to firefighter development, and his ability to create impactful, real-world learning environments. He continues to set the standard for what it means to be an educator in the fire service.

​

Please join us in congratulating Chief Donald Burns on being selected as Instructor of the Year. His work continues to inspire, influence, and strengthen the fire service community.