ANACOCO, LA, August 26, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Michael Louis Kuk, PhD, with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Kuk celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Kuk is the Fire Chief Emeritus for the United States Army. His more than 50 years of public service dates back to 1965 as a Fire Explorer Scout. His professional career began as a solider-firefighter with the U.S. Army in 1969, having gone on to Vietnam as a Combat Firefighter and Station Chief from 1970-1971. In 1972 he joined the Clinton, Iowa Fire Department as a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician. Going to Louisiana in 1976 he served as the fire chief at OLIN Chemicals and PPG Industries in Lake Charles. He was also the first chief of the Ward One Fire Protection District in Moss Bluff, Louisiana. He then went to the Federal Civil Service and was the last fire chief at Savanna Army Depot in Illinois before base closure in 2000, thus transferring to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and then serving and retiring from Fort Polk, LA.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kuk has been a published fire service author since 1974. His new book, An Army Firefighter in Vietnam 1970-1971, is the only comprehensive documentation of the role of the Combat Firefighter in that timeframe of military conflict. His numerous writings have included technical, historical, and inspirational subjects, including Homeland Security.
Following in the footsteps of both his grandfathers, who were firefighters and officers in the WWI Romanian Army, Dr. Kuk aspired to be a great a fireman and soldier as his forbearers. After graduating high school, he subsequently achieved a Bachelor's degree, followed by a Master of Science at Columbia Pacific University in 1988, and a Doctor of Philosophy in religion at Universal Life Church University in 1998. Dr. Kuk holds extensive certifications in multiple fire service disciplines, including EMS, HazMat, and heavy rescue. He also holds dual Fellowships in the International Fire Engineers and Homeland Security. In 1998 he became a fire chaplain and continues to serve extensively with that discipline of support and compassion.
As a lifetime professional union musician of the American Federation of Musicians since 1965, Dr. Kuk's music has been heard around the world. For 17 years he provided the especial ceremonial music for the annual conferences of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He continues to perform extensively as a keyboardist and vocalist in many venues and shows.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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