Dr. Burton A. Clark, EFO, has dedicated 55 years to the fire service, bringing a deep understanding of its operational, educational and cultural dimensions. Dr. Clark has academic degrees in business and education. He previously served as the management science chair at the National Fire Academy and has contributed to the academic advancement of others by serving on 20 dissertation committees. Dr. Clark was a visiting scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Fire Safety Research and Policy and currently serves on the board of the Fire Service Psychology Association. He is also an expert technical reviewer for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program. In 2021, Clark was inducted into the National Fire Heritage Center’s Hall of Legends, and in 2025, he was named one of 20 Influencers by Fire Safety Journal Americas. He is the author of “I Can’t Save You and Don’t Want to Die Trying: American Fire Culture.” Clark’s research focuses on American fire culture through social, political, economic and technological lenses. His current work examines human factors contributing to firefighter occupational injuries and fatalities.
