Sam Dannaway, Pioneering Fire Protection Engineer to Retire

Hawaii Fire Protection Engineer reaches career milestone

After four decades of service as a valued fire protection engineering Principal Advisor, Sam Dannaway, PE, FSFPE, announced his retirement from Coffman Engineers on April 30, 2025. A true testament to his passion for fire protection engineering, dedication to the profession’s development, and his pioneering spirit as the first fire protection engineer in Hawaii, Sam is respected for his contributions nationwide. Although retiring, he will continue to assist Coffman and the fire protection engineering department as needed.

Early Years

Sam’s fire protection journey began while studying at the University of Maryland, where he also served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. He graduated with a degree in Fire Protection Engineering in 1978 and moved to Hawaii in 1979. In 1985, Sam founded S.S. Dannaway and Associates (SSDA), the first full-service fire protection engineering firm in Hawaii, which operated for over 30 years before the company joined Coffman in 2016.

Catalyst for Licensure in Hawaii

Sam’s years of dedication and advocacy led Hawaii to finally recognize fire protection engineering licensure on September 12, 2023. Although the last state in the U.S. to recognize fire protection engineering through licensure, this achievement marked the end of a 32-year campaign led by Sam and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) Hawaii Chapter. Before this approval, fire protection engineers in Hawaii were licensed in other states.

Lasting Legacy

A prolific writer and storyteller, Sam’s legacy includes publishing the widely read Plumbing Magazine’s “FPE Corner” for over 10 years, which became the foundation for the recently published FPE Corner, available on Amazon. He led many engineers to licensure through his successful FPE PE licensing exam study groups, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawaii Council of Engineering Societies in 2020, and was recognized as a Fellow and past president of SFPE. He was also awarded the Antarctica Service Medal for his work at the South Pole.

What’s Next

In retirement, Sam will enjoy time with his wife Linda, gardening, playing with their dalmatians, contributing to NFPA Technical Committees, and co-authoring a book about the History of the Honolulu Fire Department.

“It’s been an honor to have Sam as a colleague all these past years. I’ve always been thankful and humbled that Sam trusted Coffman and me to join the firm. It’s been – and continues to be – a very successful teaming,” expressed John Thielst, Vice President and Pacific Region Managing Principal.