Fire Rescue Chief Larry Morabito recently was awarded the professional designation of Chief Fire Officer by the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC), an entity of the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc.

Morabito was named one of just over 830 CFOs worldwide.

The CPC awards the Chief Fire Officer designation only after an individual successfully meets all of the organization’s stringent criteria. The process includes an assessment of the applicant’s education, experience, professional development, technical competencies, contributions to the profession, as well as community involvement.

Beyond that, all applicants are required to identify a future professional development plan.

According to Sheriff Jeff Dawsy, Chief Morabito has an in-depth knowledge of the emergency services profession and has surpassed the critical core competencies for personnel serving in senior fire officer positions.

The CFO designation process uses a comprehensive peer review model to evaluate those candidates who seek the credential.

As administrators of the CFO designation program, the nine-member Commission on Professional Credentialing consists of individuals from the fire and emergency medical services professions, federal and local government, plus academia.

Morabito has been a member of the Fire Rescue Division since September 2008. He previously served as a fire chief in Michigan and South Carolina. Morabito also is active in various fire service organizations.