William Brad Brown, assistant chief of administration for the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Fire Department has been awarded the ASQ Richard A. Freund Scholarship for 2018.
The $5,000 Richard A. Freund Scholarship is named after a past ASQ president and supports a quality professional’s graduate studies. Candidates for the Scholarship must be planning to enroll, or already be enrolled in a master’s degree or higher-level program at college or university with a concentration on quality. Applicants must have a grade-point average or equivalent of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate studies in engineering, sciences, or business.
This year’s recipient, William Brad Brown is pursuing a doctor of education degree in organizational leadership and development at Cornerstone University.
Brown has used quality methods often associated with manufacturing and the private sector to produce positive benefits for the Grand Rapids Fire Department, including more than $60 million in savings for the department, and establishing lean training for 1,600 city employees.
Brown said “quality is something that can be applied to all sectors, including in the public sector.”
“I’m honored and appreciative of the scholarship,” Brown commented. “It will help me complete my studies and continue offering value to the city of Grand Rapids.”
Freund Scholarship committee chair and ASQ past chair, Chuck Aubrey, said Brown’s commitment to public service stood out among the applicants.
“We are pleased to present the Freund Scholarship to an individual focused on improving the processes and quality of a service that greatly impacts the public in Grand Rapids,” Aubrey said.
“We’re happy to contribute to Brad’s career path, which, through continued education, started as a firefighter and evolved to an integral part of the Grand Rapids Fire Department.”
Click here for more information about the annual Richard A. Freund Scholarship.