Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue Chief Alan J. Martin has been named 2014 Career Fire Chief of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Pierce Manufacturing Inc.

Selected by a committee appointed by the IAFC, the winner is honored for dedication and leadership in fire and emergency services. Sponsored by Pierce, the annual award will be presented Thursday during the opening session at the IAFC's 2014 Fire-Rescue International conference in Dallas.

A 40-year veteran of the fire service, Martin began his career in 1974 with the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service. There, he served in positions of increasing responsibility, including four different assistant-chief positions, until 2002 when he was appointed as fire chief of the Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue Service.

During his tenure, Martin has led a transformation of TFRS to become an excellent, progressive fire department that operates optimally as a result of structural and operational changes. For his outstanding leadership, in 2013, Martin was named Fire Chief of the Year by both the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs and the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs.

Martin has spearheaded a number of outstanding fire service related programs, including "Get Alarmed! Tuscaloosa," a smoke alarms installation program. He was also instrumental in the recent rollout by the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs of the statewide fire-prevention campaign, "Turn Your Attention to Fire Prevention."

Stay up to date on all City of Tuscaloosa news via social media:

More From 92.9 WTUG