Get To Know Our Speakers
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Cristobal Aguirre
Cris is the founder and principal owner of Noble Environmental, a private Hazardous Materials mitigating, training and consulting company located in Miami Florida. Mr. Aguirre is co- owner and developer of HazMatIQ LLC. a HazMatIQ is a training company that delivers easy to understand and impossible to forget Hazardous Materials/WMD training to emergency responders. His work on the "Above the Line Smart Charts" has revolutionized the way responders learn how to respond to Hazardous Materials/WMD emergencies. Cris has been employed with the Miami Dade Fire and Rescue, which is an all hazards response fire and rescue department, for 32 years. He currently holds the rank of Lieutenant with the department.
Kelly Baratti
Kelli Baratti is the State Operation and Resource Manager for the Nevada Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEM-HS). Included in this position are the duties of State Fire Mutual Aid Coordinator, State Duty Officer, Nevada EMAC Coordinator and State Emergency Operations Center Manager.
Steve Brewer
Steve Brewer has been in the fire service for nearly 18 years. Steve is a Driver-Engineer with the Roseburg City Fire Dept and is the Training Coordinator for the Douglas County Regional Hazmat team. Steve has been doing Fire Service and Industry training for many years and brings a common sense approach to his classes. Steve's goal is to teach students in a basic sort of way so that they can take the information back to their department and spread the knowledge to those who needs it.
Dave Buccolo
David Buccolo is the General Manager of the Central California Traction Company, a company jointly owned by the Union Pacific Railroad (two thirds ownership) and by the BNSF Railroad. (one-third ownership). The CCT is the Port of Stockton's neutral rail carrier, which provides access to both the Union Pacific and the BNSF Railways at the Port of Stockton, in addition to the Port’s tenants, Maritime trade partners, and other customers from Stockton to Lodi on the CCT main line. Dave Buccolo began working on the railroad in 1969 to pay for his college, and has continued to devote his career to railroading and transportation for the past 39 years. He worked with UPRR for 20 years, spending another 19 years in the Shortline and Regional Railroad business. He has belonged to Transcaer for 24 years, and is an instructor in railroad hazardous materials shipping and emergency response, a 1st responder, Hazmat Technician and is Trained in the Incident Command System. In 2009 Dave received the Transcaer Chairmen's award. He has spent 32 years as a presenter for operation lifesaver. He is an instructor for the Grade Crossing collision investigation program.
Steve Carpenter
Steve Carpenter is a retired Battalion Chief after 34 years of service with the City of Vacaville Fire Department in Northern California. He holds an AS Degree in Fire Science and has a lifetime California State Teaching Credential. His career in extrication began in the 1970's prior to the advancement of hydraulic rescue equipment. In 1976 after the delivery of the department’s first hydraulic tools, Steve’s interest in extrication augmented and he began teaching extrication techniques through the Local Fire Science programs at Solano Community College in Suisun City California.
Ronny J. Coleman
Ronny J. Coleman is the retired State Fire Marshal for the State of California. He possesses a Masters of Arts Degree in Vocational Education from Cal State Long Beach, a Bachelors of Science Degree in Political Science from Cal State Fullerton and an Associate of Arts Degree in Fire Science from Rancho Santiago College. Chief Coleman has served in many elected positions in professional organizations, including President, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Vice President, International Committee for Prevention and Control of Fire (CTIF), and President, California League of Cities, Fire Chiefs Department. He served on the Public Safety Committee for the League of California Cities for almost 20 years. He served as Chairman of the Commission on Fire Accreditation from 1984 to 2005.
Chief Coleman has held professional memberships in many other organizations, such as the International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Fire Code Institute, Conference of Building Officials, International Code Council, National Fire Protection Association, and the Institution of Fire Engineers, USA Branch. He was elected as a Fellow of the IFE by the British Chapter. In the past he has served as a panel member on the re-constituted "America Burning" panel and was a member of the US Fire Administrations "Stakeholder Committee." He serves on the Fireman's Fund National Committee and was recently elected as the first president of a new fire organization called The National Fire Heritage Center. This organization is dedicated to preserving the written history of the Fire Profession in the United States. He is now the Chair of the International Accreditation Services, Technical Advisory Committee on the Accreditation of Fire Prevention Bureaus. He is a columnist for Fire Chief Magazine and Sprinkler Age Magazine. He has authored over 19 textbooks for the fire community. His latest endeavor is to co-author a text entitled “Fire Marshal” for Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
The California Fire Chiefs Association named their annual Fire Chief of the Year Award after Chief Coleman in 2000. Recently the Center for Public Safety Excellence announced that they are naming a perpetual trophy devoted to Excellence in Leadership after Chief Coleman. This award will begin in 2010. He was recently awarded a special presidential recognition by the President of the International Code Council for his lifetime involvement in the development of fire codes.
Ralph Craven
Mr. Craven began his career in the fire service in 1964 and rose through the ranks until his retirement as an Acting Battalion Chief for the Milpitas Fire Department in Milpitas, CA. As his career took a new direction, he became the Department Chair of the Fire Science Department at Mission College in Santa Clara, CA and was responsible for developing the curriculum for emergency vehicle maintenance and operations, instructing all courses in the areas of emergency vehicle maintenance, vehicle safety inspections and operations for national level and state programs, seminars, and schools. During that time, he produced and edited the nationally recognized video tape "Aerial Error." After nearly a decade in education, Ralph held senior level positions within several of the leading fire apparatus and apparatus parts manufacturers. For six years, Ralph held the position as President, National Institute of Emergency Vehicle Safety, as well as serving as President for numerous other professional associations related to vehicle maintenance and safety during this career.
Ralph is world renowned for his investigative skills in investigating mechanical failures in vehicles, motor vehicle crashes involving emergency vehicles, identifying numerous failures in vehicles that resulted in recalls by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and for investigating numerous aerial failures and have performed fleet safety evaluations for agencies nationally. During the past decade, Ralph has been a highly respected consultant working for numerous public agencies and apparatus manufacturers to act as a third party to identify issues, consulting with numerous agencies regarding the purchase of fire apparatus, performing fleet analysis and evaluations, as well as working with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in crashes involving firefighter fatalities.
Chief Larry Curl - VCOS Leadership Instructor
Chief Curl has been a member of the Fire Service for thirty-five years. He has served as a member of the Wayne Township Fire Department, Indianapolis, Indiana since 1969, holding every appointed and elected position up to and including chief of the department and currently serves as a Deputy Chief in the Hilmon Fire Fighters Association in Montezuma IN. He is currently a Member of National Fire Protection Assoc. serving on the 1720 Standards Technical Committee; IAFC (International Association of Fire Chiefs); VCOS (Volunteer Chief Officers Section of the IAFC) serving as a member of the Board of Directors and as Immediate Past Chair of the section; NVFC (National Volunteer Fire Council) serving as a liaison for the Volunteer & Combination Officers Section; IVFA (Indiana Volunteer Firemen’s Association); HBCI (Hoosier Burn Camp Inc.) member of the Board of Directors. During his thirty-five years as a member of our Nation’s fire service, he has been very active and involved in the direction our Fire Service has taken. He has lead the charge in many areas and followed with due diligence and high expectation on others. He has been called upon three times to testify before congress, twice on Weapons of Mass Destruction and once regarding the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act).
He was called upon to assist The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, working with FEMA, (Federal Emergency Management Agency) in the coordination and oversight of the funding and expenses for the Firefighters Support Group, working in New York City very shortly following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on our Country and since that date has been an active part of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend serving as the Administrative / Finance Section Chief for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Chief Curl is working with the National Fallen Fire Fighters Line-of-Duty Prevention program that has been charged by the US Fire Administration with the task of reducing firefighters Line of Duty Deaths 25 % in 5 years and 50 % in 10. He is the representative for the International Association of Fire Chiefs Volunteer Section in the coordination and formation of FIRE CORPS, working with members from the National Volunteer Fire Council, International Association of Fire Firefighters, the US Fire Administration, and USA Freedom Corps.
Jeff Dyar
Jeff Dyar started his career in the Fire Service in Brighton Colorado as a volunteer EMT. Some 38 years later he has worked in private, public, academic, military and federal capacities and authored three books. Mr. Dyar held the position of Program Chair for EMS, Firefighter Health and Safety, and Counter-terrorism at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg Maryland for 12 years. Jeff has worked at the largest events in modern history, assisting locals response agencies on behalf of FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration including both World Trade Center events, 18 hurricanes, the Columbine School shooting, the 2002 Winter Olympics to name a few. Jeff was the Chief of Operations for National Emergency Operation Center for FEMA and oversaw dozens of national events. He was recognized by the White House in two administrations for outstanding service, and is a recipient of the James O. Page Award for his national contribution to Fire Service EMS by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Jeff currently resides in southern Colorado and serves as a Fire Commissioner and President of the Board for the Upper Pine Fire Protection District in Bayfield, Colorado. His latest published books are Management of Emergency Medical Services (Brady 2009) and Crew Resource Management: Principals and Practices (Jones and Bartlett 2009).
Mark Emery
Mark Emery authored the The Ten Command‐ments of Intelligent and Safe Fireground Operations, is co‐developer of the Integrated Tactical Accountability System (ITAC), and creator of the Command Competency Clinic. BC Emery is a regular contributor to Firehouse magazine and has provided articles for the FDSOA Health & Safety Newsletter and FireRescue magazine. BC Emery is a fourth generation career fire fighter, a NFA Executive Fire Officer, and the Region 10 Director of the National Fire Academy Alumni Association. Chief Emery currently serves as an Operations Battalion Chief with Woodinville Fire & Life Safety District, a CPSE Accredited Agency in King County, WA.
Joe Ennes
Joe Ennes has been in the Ammonia industry for twenty plus years. He started as an operator with Unocal, he has owned his own Ammonia Distribution Company and is presently employed as a Western Region General Manager for Airgas Specialty Products. Most with Joe's experience would consider him an industry expert in the field of Ammonia.
Bruce Evans
Bruce Evans is the Assistant Chief of Business and Support Services at the North Las Vegas Fire Department in Southern Nevada. Mr. Evans is an NFPA Fire Instructor III and is a faculty member at the College of Southern Nevada's Fire Technology program teaching various fire and EMS topics. Bruce has over 25 years experience in a variety of EMS settings. Bruce is an adjunct faculty of the National Fire Academy in the EMS, Incident Management, and Terrorism Training programs. He is the past Chair of the National Association of EMT's Safety Committee and was appointed to the Safety subcommittee of NHTSA's National EMS Advisory Committee. He holds a Masters degree in Public Administration, Bachelors degree in Education, and Associates in Fire Management. Bruce is a certified faculty for the International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics training program. Mr. Evans writes the bi-monthly column EMS Viewpoints in Fire Chief Magazine and is on the editorial board of for the Journal of Emergency Medical Services. Bruce has co-authored two textbooks Management of EMS with Brady Prentice Hall and Crew Resource Management with Jones and Bartlett. He is also a board member for the Cyanide Treatment Coalition.
Frank Frievalt
Frank Frievalt started his fire service career with the California Department of Forestry Region IV (1979-82), continued on with the Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield District (1983-87), and currently works as the Division Chief of Operations for the Sparks Fire Department (1987 - present). Some of his collateral activities have included serving on the Local Emergency Planning Commission, Chairing the Fire Advisory Board for the Truckee Meadows Community College, being a general partner for the industrial fire protection consulting firm FIRE TRACS, LLC, serving as the acting Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Sparks (1999-2001), working with the Sierra Front Incident Management Team, presenting to the Alliance for Innovation, and publishing his first article in 2006. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration from Cogswell Polytechnic College in 1999, and a Master of Science in Fire and Emergency Management Administration from Oklahoma State University in 2004.
Stacey Giomi
Stacey Giomi, Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director for Carson City Fire Department. Chief Giomi started his career with the Carson City Fire Department as a volunteer in 1980. He was hired as a full time employee in 1984 and has been employed with Carson Fire for 26 years. Chief Giomi holds a Bachelor's (B.S) Degree in Public Administration, and a second B.S. Degree in Fire Prevention Technology.
Joe Gorman
Joe Gorman currently serves as a Technician for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, a career and volunteer organization providing fire suppression, emergency medical, technical rescue, fire prevention and educational services to more than one million citizens. His 24 years emergency response began at the position of Firefighter where primary duties included fighting structural and wild land fires, providing emergency medical services, and working in the fire prevention field. Mr. Gorman completed his basic Hazardous Materials Technician Certification course for the state of Virginia at the DuPont Chemical facility in Martinsville, Virginia. He has extensively studied the field of Hazardous Materials/ WMD response, and he is a nationally recognized subject matter expert in the field of Hazardous Materials response. Joe serves on the National Fire Protection Association Committee (NFPA) on Emergency Response to Hazardous Materials/WMD Response. This committee consists of leaders in the field of hazardous materials from the response community, industry and manufacturing and is tasked making recommendations on how to best respond to emergencies involving Hazardous Materials or Weapons of Mass Destructions. As a Master Instructor for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Joe has trained responders in the field of Hazardous materials and WMD all nationally. He has worked with the IAFF on developing numerous courses. Joe has served as a Hazardous Materials Specialist on Virginia Task Force 1, a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team. This internationally renowned team has responded on emergencies from earthquakes in Iran to the September 11, 2001 terrorist event at the Pentagon. Mr. Gorman is co- owner and co-developer of HazMatIQ LLC. a HazMatIQ is a training company that delivers easy to understand and impossible to forget Hazardous Materials/WMD training to emergency responders. His work on the “Above the Line Smart Charts” has revolutionized the way responders learn how to respond to Hazardous Materials/WMD emergencies.
Stephen L. Hermann
Stephen L. Hermann recently retired as the Hazardous Materials Coordinator for the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and Arizona's senior State-on-Scene-Coordinator for hazardous materials emergency response. He has supervised over 120 serious hazardous materials highway and rail incidents over the past 35 years; has participated in raiding over 150 clandestine drug laboratories; and has published over 130 articles during the past 20 years in all of the major police, fire, and environmental magazines.
He is a Senior Executive Fellow, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He is a retired Army Chemical Corps Colonel in the USAR. His Bachelor of Science degree is in Explosives Technology, and he is a graduate of the U.S. Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. He is a Diplomate of the American Board for Certification in Homeland Security, and is Certified in Homeland Security Level V. He is past National Chairman of COHMED, the national organization of state and local hazardous materials enforcement officers, and past chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Hazardous Materials Committee. He was an adjunct faculty member of the U.S. Army Logistics Management College, and has guest lectured at the National Fire Academy, the University of Arizona, and Arizona State University.
Perry Hortt
Perry Hortt was born and raised in Las Vegas. He graduated from Rancho High School and earned an Associate Degree in Fire Science from Clark County Community College. A Vietnam Veteran, he was hired by the Las Vegas Fire Department in 1974. Attended the first Paramedic School sponsored by LVFD in 1977. He rose through the ranks of the fire department becoming a Fire Captain in 1983 and a Fire Battalion Chief in 1992. Chief Hortt retired from the fire service in 2003 and has been an Adjunct Faculty member at CSN since 2004, teaching Tactics and Strategies, High-Rise Firefighting and Apparatus and Equipment classes.
Jim Juneau, JD
Mr. Juneau is a Dallas, Texas board-certified trial lawyer who specializes in cases involving products liability, catastrophic injury and wrongful death. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Sciences from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Alabama. He has been recognized as a "Texas Super-Lawyer" by Texas Monthly magazine, and was inducted into the Million Dollar Advocates Forum in recognition of his many jury verdicts and settlements in excess of one million dollars. Over his 26 year legal career, he has developed a special expertise in fire apparatus and firefighting equipment, and has handled many serious injury and death cases involving fire apparatus and firefighting equipment. In addition to maintaining an active private law practice, he currently serves as a voting member of the NFPA Fire Apparatus Technical Committee which writes the recognized national design and safety standards for U.S. fire apparatus. He also serves as a voting member of the new NFPA Technical Committee on Ambulances, which committee is in the process of writing the first-ever national design and safety standards for U.S. ground ambulances. Mr. Juneau also serves as designated legal counsel to the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association and to the Fire & Emergency Manufacturers' and Services Association. Mr. Juneau's many articles on fire apparatus safety and design have been published in Fire Chief and Firehouse Engineering magazines, and he has been interviewed on numerous radio and TV programs discussing fire apparatus design and safety issues. He is a frequent speaker to professional service organizations regarding fire apparatus design, apparatus safety, liability, leadership and related topics, and he presents his "Arrive Alive" training programs to firefighters and fire service professionals across the United States and Canada.
Kurt Ladipow - VCOS Leadership Instructor
Chief Kurt Ladipow has 30+ years in public safety serving in positions as Fire Chief of Ukiah Fire Department in California as well as Fire Chief in Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District, Hesperia Fire Department, and Arroyo Grande, California. He also served as Deputy Chief, Fire and Rescue Branch of the Governor's Office in California. He currently is the County Fire Services Coordinator for Washoe County in Reno, Nevada. Kurt has been instrumental in working with in the development of the IAFC VCOS program.
Donna Lepik
Donna is Director of Outreach & Special Programs for CHEMTEC® - the Chemical Transportation Emergency Center, which is an initiative of the American Chemistry Council and a leader in providing immediate information and assistance to anyone involved in a chemical or hazardous material incident around the globe since 1971. Donna is also the Staff Executive for TRANSCAER® – Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response - a voluntary national outreach effort that focuses on assisting communities prepare for and respond to a possible hazardous material transportation incident. Before joining CHEMTREC & TRANSCAER, Donna worked for URS Corporation supporting emergency management related events for Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and various state emergency management organizations during Hurricane’s Katrina, Rita, Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. With URS, Donna also represented the Pueblo Chemical Depot’s chemical weapons demilitarization program. Donna is an affiliate member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and a member of the Alliance of Hazardous Material Professionals and the International Women in Emergency Management.
Eric Matus
Eric Matus is a supervisor in the Nevada State Health Division’s Radiation Control Program, with primary responsibility for emergency response, preparedness and training, as well as a number of other special projects. He has a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Nevada, Reno and has worked for the State of Nevada since 1999. He has also been a wildland firefighter and hazardous materials technician.
Lenny Mayorga
Battalion Chief (BC) Lenny Mayorga has been employed with the North Las Vegas Fire Department since 1985. BC Mayorga has moved up the ranks from Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief over Training, and currently a Battalion Chief assigned to Operations. The majority of BC Mayorga’s career (15+ years) was served as a Captain assigned to Operations. BC Mayorga has also been an Adjunct Instructor for the College of Southern Nevada since 2002, teaching Fire Science related courses. BC Mayorga holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, Associates Degree in Engineering and Fire Science Administration, and is working towards completing a Masters Degree in Public Administration.
Mike Moore
Mike Moore has worked in the fire industry for over 25 years, holding various positions in engineering, product management, new product development, business development, and sales. His current title is Director of Strategic New Product Development and Support for Pierce Manufacturing.
Mike Myers
Deputy Chief Mike Myers is the Medical Services Division Chief for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. His primary duties include the management of the Combined Communications Center (Fire Alarm Office), EMS Operations and the Administrative Section of the department. Mike is a past member of the NFPA EMS Technical Committee and the Fire Service Training Committee. Mike has 23 years of experience with Las Vegas Fire Rescue.
Joe Nishikida
Joe Nishikida has been with the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District for 10 years as a training and safety officer, Technical Rescue and Regional HazMat Technician. He joined the Reno Fire eleven years ago and has held the position of a training captain and a suppression captain as well remaining on the Regional Haz Mat Team. He is certified as a Nevada paramedic, an Instructor 1 & 2, Company Officer 1 & 2, and has served in several wildland positions on Great Basin Teams. Joe has a Bachelor of Science in Business and Renewal Natural Resources from University of Nevada, Reno and a Masters of Human Resources and Organizational Development from the University of San Francisco.
Jeff Page
Jeff Page is the Emergency Management Coordinator for Lyon County, NV. He has wide experience in public safety with almost 30 years with the Mason Valley Fire Protection District. He has served there as a firefighter/EMT-I, Engineer, Captain, Assistant Chief. He is currently serving his second term on the Board of Fire Commissioners. Jeff spent 20 plus years with the Lyon County Sheriff's Office serving as Deputy Sheriff and worked his way through the ranks to the rank of Captain. 2006 Emergency Management was created as an independent agency in Lyon County. Jeff had served as the Emergency Manager since 1999 and moved to the new department.
Paul J. Pate
An avid automotive enthusiast, Paul J Pate has made a career in the automotive industry including working as a technician, an educator, a program developer, and an industry champion. Paul is a Master Certified Automotive Technician, and spent the majority of his time in the automotive industry as an import repair specialist. Paul’s area of specialty is alternatively fueled and advanced technology vehicles. He teaches courses in both Alternative Fuels and Hybrid Vehicle service techniques for the College of Southern Nevada, and is qualified thorough the NAFTC to instruct First-Responders in the techniques of dealing with alternative fueled vehicles while keeping themselves and the vehicle occupants safe.
Paul provided the leadership that successfully transformed the automotive program at the College of Southern Nevada from a small program of seventy-five students to a nationally accredited program that has seen as many as 800 students per semester. This academic unit includes partnerships and programs with General Motors, Ford, the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium, and others. Paul has served as a member of the Advisory Board for the Clark County Voluntary Vehicle Repair program, a program designed to repair “gross polluter” vehicles. He also recently served as the President to the Executive Board for the International Association of General Motors Automotive Service Education Programs, an Association representing eighty three colleges that partner with General Motors to provide automotive technician educational services. Paul is also an active member of the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium, a group dedicated to bring training to technicians dealing with alternative fueled vehicles and thereby assist in reducing our dependence on foreign sources of petroleum.
Dane Pitarresi
Dane Pitarresi began his competitive driving career in 1972 and started his driver instructor career in 1976. He began teaching advanced driving and racing classes, then broadened his experience and client base with the opening of his own school, Pitarresi ProDrive, which included professional, private, Law Enforcement, Protective Services, and Municipal clients. From 1990 to the present, Dane's focus has been on the professional use and instruction of the SKIDCAR SYSTEM® and “It’s about Grip, not Slip®" philosophy of driver education. His experience with the international community has provided him insight into understanding cognitive, perceptual motor skills, and motor skills instruction needed for the improvement of vehicle training from the beginner to the absolute professional. The constant search for technically correct, practical application and validation of outcomes in training have proven a positive influence in modern curriculum used in North America and Scandinavia. Dane and his staff are authors of materials delivered to conferences, workshops, and training tracks focused on modern understanding of the driving problem. This understanding has kept his company as the sole Certifying source for SKIDCAR SYSTEM Instructors in the Western Hemisphere. Dane's company has delivered more than 270 SKIDCAR SYSTEMS in North America and has certified almost 1000 driver instructors in the use of the SKIDCAR™ and its System of learning.
Tom Redican
Bio Forthcoming
Richard Resurreccion, EdD
Dr. Richard L. Resurreccion is a Professor Emeritus at California State University, Long Beach and Adjunct Lecturer in Leadership Studies, Chapman University. Since 1999, he has been a human resource development consultant for the Long Beach Fire Department. In this capacity he teaches instructional methods, technical and professional writing, and an array of managerial leadership subjects, including coaching and counseling. He has been integrally involved in the redesign of the LBFD Basic Recruit Academy.
Dennis L. Rubin
On April 16, 2007, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty appointed Dennis L. Rubin Chief of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department - the same Department Rubin joined as a line firefighter at the age of 21. Rubin commands a staff of over 2,000 sworn and civilian employees and manages an annual operating budget in excess of $180 million. The Department he leads is responsible for protecting more than 1.5 million people who visit, work, and live in the Nation's Capital each day as well as safeguarding our precious national landmarks from the U.S. Capitol to the White House. Prior to his nomination, Chief Rubin was the Fire Chief of the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department.
Chief Rubin's experience in fire and rescue service spans more than 35 years. He has served as a company grade officer, command level officer, and Chief in other cities including Norfolk, Virginia and Dothan, Alabama. In 1994, he served as the President of the State Fire Chiefs Association of Virginia. Rubin was the host Fire Chief for the 1999 Southeastern Fire Chiefs Association conference held in Dothan, Alabama. He serves on several committees with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, including a two-year term as the Health and Safety Committee Chair. Chief Rubin was the host Fire Chief for the "Wingspread IV and V" conferences held in 1996 and 2006.
Rubin is the author of a book entitled Rube's Rules for Survival that is available through Penn Well Publishing. He is a long-standing contributing editor of FIREHOUSE Magazine, and has written more than 140 technical articles related to fire department operations, administration, training, and safety. Chief Rubin has a strong commitment to community service and lives in Northwest Washington, D.C.
Ben Salo
Benjamin Salo has been the Manager, Hazardous Materials for Union Pacific Railroad, covering Central, Northern California and Northern Nevada for 2 years and with Union Pacific Railroad for 4 years. Prior to working for Union Pacific, he worked in the fire service since 1998 holding various positions including, Training Officer, Operations Assignments, and Assistant Emergency Services Director. Ben has also been a California State Fire Instructor for Driver/Operator, Vehicle Extrication, and Hazardous Materials. In addition to these, Ben has also been an instructor for numerous Wildland Firefighting courses.
Alan Saulsbury
Alan Saulsbury is a fourth generation fire fighter and has been involved with the fire service since early childhood; his career has spanned over 50 years in many facets of the industry. The SAULSBURY Family has been active in the fire service for almost 110 years! After attending Oklahoma State University School of Fire Protection, he joined Improved Risk Mutual Insurance as a fire protection engineer for 9 years. He was a firefighter in Stillwater, Oklahoma and is presently a ‘life member’ of the Homer, N.Y. Fire Department.
He has held an active involvement for over 35 years with the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association (FAMA), served as Technical Committee chair person, President and Board Member. For over 30 years, has been taken an extremely active role in the NFPA #1901 apparatus committee and chaired and developed the NPFA #1911 Standard for In-Service Fire Apparatus Testing and Maintenance. Presently attends all meetings and participates in task committee activities on several standards. He has a working knowledge of NFPA #1901, #1906, #414, #1911, and #1912 standards.
Over a 65 year period, the Saulsbury Family built one of the 'leading' fire apparatus brands in the industry. Saulsbury Fire grew from a 1943 fire extinguisher distribution into a $50M and 200 units per year builder of custom fire apparatus...primarily focused on rescue apparatus. From FDNY, Chicago, Los Angles, San Diego, Miami, Philadelphia to Anchorage....major fire departments depended on Saulsbury apparatus. SAULSBURY was the leading manufacturer in specialty vehicles and pioneered stainless steel rescues, rear mounted rescue pumpers, and specialty vehicles like Saulsbury...these were the company's trademarks.
Presently, Alan is President of Fire Apparatus Consulting Services in Homer, New York; the company specializes in professional consulting services for several fire apparatus and fire equipment manufacturers in North America. Alan has traveled extensively world-wide in the pursuit of new ideas and innovations in the fire industry. Known as "Mr. Rescue", he has designed and built some of the largest rescue vehicles in world. Today, his passion and dreams are aimed at making fire apparatus "safer" and bringing leading-edge technology to small and mid-size fire apparatus and equipment manufacturers in around the world!
Major David Sellen
Major David Sellen is currently the commander of the 92nd Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction), Nevada National Guard. MAJ Sellen began his service by enlisting in the California Army National Guard, after his junior year of high school on the Split Option Program, on 30 June 1989 and was assigned to D Company 3/160th Infantry (Mechanized). Since that time he has served in the Alabama National Guard with HHC 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and the South Carolina National Guard with 1/118th Infantry (Mechanized) before graduating from The Citadel in Charleston, SC with a BA in History. Upon completion of the Infantry Officer’s Basic Course MAJ Sellen was stationed at Fort Hood, TX as a Bradley Platoon Leader with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He also served as a Company Executive Officer and Battalion Adjutant in 2/7th Cavalry. His next assignment was at Fort Benning, Georgia; where he attended the Infantry Captain’s Career Course, and was then assigned to command C Company, 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment. After command he was assigned as the battalion Operations Officer and deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom to augment Third Army. Upon returning from the Middle East MAJ Sellen was assigned as the Battalion Executive Officer for 1/11th Infantry.
MAJ Sellen left active duty in March of 2003 and returned to the California National Guard to serve with 3rd Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized) as the Battalion Adjutant, and later commanded A Company. After a year in command, MAJ Sellen was selected as the Operations Officer for the 92nd Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction) and transferred to the Nevada National Guard. After three years as the Operations Officer he was selected to be the Deputy Commander of the 92nd Civil Support Team. MAJ Sellen served with the unit from standup to a fully operational force working regularly with local, state, and federal counterparts in support of numerous exercises and Special Security Events, to include a deployment to New Orleans, LA in support of Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts and most recently the Las Vegas Ricin Incident.
Eric Smith
Eric C. Smith brings over 20 years experience to his position of Safety Inspector to the Nevada LP-Gas Board. His industry knowledge is attributable to his work experience and education since his graduation in 1989 from the LP Gas Technologies program at MCC, Fort Morgan, CO. Eric has held several positions for one of California’s largest independent marketers that ranged from Service Technician to Director of Safety. He was Regional Sales Manager one of the nation’s largest suppliers of accounting and delivery scheduling software and a Field Engineer for a nationwide provider of electronic registers and handheld computers for delivery vehicles. Eric has over 10 years experience as a volunteer fire fighter and was an instructor for the Western Propane Gas Association Emergency Response School for 10 years and is currently an Adjunct Instructor for the Nevada State Fire Marshal Division.
Jack Snook
Mr. Snook has been with Emergency Services Consulting International since 1976. He brings with him over 36 years of private and public sector experience at multiple levels. His formal education includes a Masters degree in Public Administration, a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Administration, and an Associates of Arts degree in Fire Science. His career ranges from being the chief executive officer of a city and corporation to being the chief and administrator of one of the nation’s eighty largest fire departments. He has been looked upon as a national leader in the fire service for many years.
Mr. Snook has extensive experience in providing consulting services to clients throughout the world. Areas of expertise include management and organization reviews, cooperative service and consolidation, strategic planning, program evaluations, and risk assessment. In 1991, he signed an exclusive contract with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) to present all of their cooperative effort workshops nationwide. He is the co-author of the book entitled Making the Pieces Fit, Through Cooperative Effort. The publication is the recommended reference book by the IAFC and the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA).
Recent assignments and/or appointments would include facilitator of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation national summit to reduce line of duty deaths in America; moderator of the nation’s first symposium to bring healthcare officials and the fire service together to develop a model program to reduce healthcare facility deaths and injuries; facilitator of a national roundtable to discuss emerging codes; and facilitator of the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ strategic plan (two years). Mr. Snook has key-noted over 75 conferences and conventions and has spoken at over 200 events.
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