SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Chief Steven Pinch is pleased to share that retired Union Fire District of South Kingstown Deputy Chief Kevin Quinn is the recipient of the 2025 Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award, presented by the Congressional Fire Services Institute.

Retired Deputy Chief Quinn joined the fire service in 1976. For over 40 years, he has served on the National Volunteer Fire Council Board of Directors and currently serves on the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Board of Directors. He has also served for two terms on the National Fire Academy Board of Visitors and was a board member of the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition. He retired as the Deputy Chief of the Union Fire District of South Kingstown in 2014 and continues to volunteer as a firefighter and grant writer for the fire district. 

Quinn has, in various leadership capacities, helped shape fire service policy and programs at the local, state, and federal levels.

In addition to his work as a volunteer firefighter for over 40 years, Quinn also worked as an educator.

“Kevin Quinn is being honored with the Mason Lankford Award for his leadership and dedication to our nation’s firefighters and emergency services personnel,” said Congressional Fire Services Institute President Jim Estepp. “Throughout his career, he has recognized the value in building partnerships to address firefighter health and safety. He personifies the spirit of the Lankford Award, which is why my fellow board members selected him as the 2025 recipient.”

The Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award recognizes exemplary public safety leaders for their work to improve the delivery of fire and emergency services in the areas of prevention, mitigation, and response. The award is named in honor of the late Mason Lankford, a distinguished fire service leader from Texas.

The award will be presented to  Quinn in February at the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner in Washington, D.C..

“On behalf of the Union Fire Department of South Kingstown, I extend my sincerest congratulations to retired Deputy Chief Kevin Quinn for this significant honor,” Chief Pinch said. “His decades of leadership and devotion to volunteer service throughout his career is nothing short of remarkable, and we are proud to have such a dedicated individual serve our community.”