- Kevin Mangan of High Springs Fire Department received the 2025 PIO of the Year award from the Florida Fire Chiefs Association at the Orlando conference.
- Mangan's award is the first state-level PIO honor for Alachua County and followed his 2024 High Springs Employee of the Year recognition.
- Safe Kids North Central Florida organized Mangan's nomination, highlighting his impact and leadership in regional public information roles.
The Florida Fire Chiefs Association named High Springs Fire Department Public Information Officer (PIO) Kevin Mangan PIO of the Year for 2025 during its annual Florida Fire & EMS Conference in Orlando on Wednesday.
The state-wide honor has been given by the Florida Association of Public Information Officers every year since 1996 to a PIO who has made valuable contributions and displayed excellence in their role, according to the organization’s website. The Florida Fire & EMS Conference is the Southeast’s largest fire and rescue conference.
Mangan, who also serves as PIO for the city of High Springs, told Mainstreet that although he heard that he’d been nominated for the award, winning was a surprise.
He said a colleague strongly encouraged him to attend the conference’s bagpipe-filled opening ceremonies, which featured an awards section where Mangan accepted a plaque for his achievement.
The award is the first of its kind for Alachua County and the first state-level award for Mangan, who was named High Springs Employee of the Year in 2024.
“They [went] through a couple of awards, and next thing I know, my name pops up on the screen. I had no idea,” he said. “I’m completely honored. I don’t feel like I deserve it. I think that there are so many talented and gifted information officers throughout the state of Florida.”
Mangan said the PIO of the Year award’s nomination process was particularly rigorous as this year saw the most applications ever submitted.
Safe Kids North Central Florida (SKNCF) organized the nomination for Mangan. The group posted on Facebook that many of its members provided letters of support for Mangan, who is one of three SKNCF members managing the coalition’s social media.
SKNCF said Mangan’s impact across North Central Florida made his earning of the award a “no-brainer.”
“We are so grateful to have Kevin as part of our team and are beyond proud to see his leadership recognized at the state level!” SKNCF said. “Well deserved, Kevin! Thank you for all you do for our community.”
Mangan also said the award’s competitiveness comes from Florida having more PIOs than any other state.
He attributed this to the PIO association’s dedication to the education and development of PIOs, as well as buy-in from leadership, including city and county managers, fire and police chiefs, who recognized the importance of their work.
“Sometimes people don’t necessarily know what it is exactly that PIOs do until it comes time for a crisis,” he said. “But it’s important that all of our work is recognized and how important this role is in the effective communication of local government and public safety.”
High Springs Fire Department Chief Joseph Peters announced Mangan’s award in a Facebook post, saying Mangan exemplified what it means to be a PIO.
“His tireless efforts to promote both the fire department and City of High Springs, educate and inform our citizens daily, and be actively involved in programs throughout the greater Alachua County area that are making a positive impact on the lives of so many, are a testament to his passion!” Peters wrote. “I couldn’t be more proud of Kevin!”