New Hampshire Deputy Fire Chief Named Outstanding Fire Service Professional

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Jean-Paul Royea of the Brookline, New Hampshire Fire Department, was recently named the 2025 Outstanding Fire Service Professional by Columbia Southern University (CSU).

“I chose to enter the fire service because I really wanted to be part of something where I could leave a lasting impression during my short time in this beautiful place we call home,” he explained.

The Vermont native said the youth program Fire Explorers is what got him hooked on fire service.

“I served as the first captain of this post and honestly, I owe everything to this post for getting me into the service. I also served on the Center Harbor and Ashland fire departments before joining Brookline in 2007.”

He served as an on-call firefighter before becoming full-time in 2016 in Brookline. During his service, Royea has been an advocate for education, and he has trained many firefighters. Currently, he is planning to launch a professional development assistance program for firefighters in the Northeast in 2027.

“I wanted to start this nonprofit because I have seen the benefit of fire service conferences and classes; but have witnessed just how cost prohibitive they can be. And truthfully, the departments and firefighters that would most benefit from such conferences simply cannot afford to go,” he said.

The intention is to generate enough proceeds from events to allow firefighters to apply for funding assistance to attend other conferences. He added that departments could apply for funding to have speakers come to them as well.

Royea, who is currently seeking a bachelor's degree in fire administration with a concentration in fire investigation, said his knowledge has grown exponentially since attending CSU. He added that, “It has helped open doors that I may have otherwise never been able to.”

Regarding the award, Royea said he is truly humbled to win.

“While I may be the recipient of this, I owe everything to my mentors who took me under their wings and taught me everything that I know. This is more of a reflection of their commitment to growth of the fire service than it is about my achievements,” 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.