As the former senior career federal fire official, Dr. Denis Onieal was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the United States Fire Administration (USFA) — the annual training of over 140,000 first responders at and through the National Fire Academy; the National Fire Incident Reporting System, which documents and analyzes 28 million fire department emergency responses a year; the USFA’s fire prevention, public information and public education programs; and the 26 campus buildings and the grounds of the historic National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Fire Administrator, he served as Superintendent of the United States National Fire Academy. During his tenure, the NFA staff increased enrollments from 15,000 to over 100,000 students per year; completely revised all curriculums so that each course received undergraduate or graduate credit recommendation through the American Council on Education; established a nationwide fire training system in partnership with each State Fire Training Academy; instituted and alliance with over 110 associate and bachelor degree programs to standardize fire degree programs; and launched an on-line training program to include self-paced and instructor led courses for those unable to attend campus classes. An honorably discharged Army veteran, he joined the Jersey City Fire Department and rose through the ranks from firefighter to deputy chief, and then to acting chief, leading a uniformed force of 650 firefighters and officers. With the exception of his time as Chief of Department, he spent his entire time "in the street" as a line fire officer – including 15 years as a firefighter, lieutenant and captain in two of the city’s busiest ladder companies.