The Leader in Online Fire Education Columbia Southern University offers completely online degrees for firefighters interested in taking the next step in their career. Taught by some of the industry’s most distinguished fire professionals, CSU’s coursework covers relevant topics including fire prevention, administration, behaviors, emergency services, management, risk reduction and more.
The 2019 CFSI Seminar has been approved for Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Please visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu/CEParticipant and follow the instructions to apply. To qualify and receive the CEU Certificate, participant attendance must be documented for each training session attended.
Chief Chad Carey B.S. Fire Administration Master of Public Administration EFO, CFO ColumbiaSouthern.edu/Fire 877.347.6050 CSU Graduate » Located in Orange Beach, Alabama. Gainful employment information available at ColumbiaSouthern.edu/Disclosure.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Bistro Bistro 1727 Connecticut Avenue, NW (Just a short walk from the Washington Hilton) Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at Will Call or at the door and include food and drinks
Thank you to our generous sponsors: CFSI ASSOCIATES CLUB
CFSI ASSOCIATES CLUB PROGRAM Help us make a difference on Capitol Hill for our nation’s firefighters and emergency services personnel. How to Join:
The CFSI Associates Club program features six levels of support. Depending on the level you select, CFSI will provide you with a number of benefits, which may include exclusive access to our monthly newsletter, distinct recognition on the CFSI website, and a yearly commemorative gift to show our appreciation for your generous contribution (visit www.cfsi.org for specific details on the benefits included with each level of support).
Levels of Support (please circle one):
Responder - $10 Congressional - $25 Senate - $50 Cabinet - $100 Speaker - $250 Vice Presidential - $500 Presidential - $1,000
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1530 Wilson Blvd., Suite 520 Arlington, VA 22209 Getting Around By Metro
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (www.wmata.com)
From the Hilton to the Metro Walk downhill on Connecticut Avenue NW toward DuPont Circle. The Metro entrance is located at the corner of Q St. NW & Connecticut Ave NW. The Metro is approximately 5 blocks from the Hilton (a 15-minute walk).
From DuPont Circle to Senate Office Buildings Take the Red Line to Union Station. Exit from the front of Union Station and walk two blocks south on Delaware Avenue NE. The Russell Senate Office Building will appear on your left. Immediately to the left of this building are the Dirksen and Hart Senate Office Buildings.
From DuPont Circle to House Office Buildings Take the Red Line to Metro Center. Depart the train and transfer to the Orange (New Carrollton) or Silver/Blue Lines (Largo Town Center). Either train will take you to the Capitol South stop. When you depart the Metro, you will be facing the Cannon House Office Building. To the left of the Cannon House Office Building are the Longworth and Rayburn House Office Buildings.
The Washington Hilton is located at: 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington DC 20009 Tel: 202-483-3000 Fax: 202-232-0438
www.cfsi.org 13 Will Call & Shuttle Schedule
WILL CALL SCHEDULE Wednesday April 24, 2019 Will Call will be located on the Concourse Level and open from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. for ticket purchases and pick-up.
Thursday April 25, 2019 Will Call will be located on the Concourse Level an open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. for ticket purchases and pick-up.
SHUTTLE SCHEDULE Wednesday April 24, 2019
The first shuttle will depart from the Terrace Lobby of the Washington Hilton at aproximately 8:00 a.m. and continue to depart from the Hilton every hour on the hour until 3:00 p.m. Guests departing for Capitol Hill will be dropped off at Garfield Circle. Garfield Circle is at the intersection of Maryland Avenue SW, 1st Street SW, and South Capitol Circle SW (steps from the House office buildings). Shuttles will return to the Hilton from Garfield Circle every hour on the half-hour with the last shuttle departing Capitol Hill at 3:30 p.m.
Example Shuttle Schedule:*
Departs Hilton Arrives House Side (Garfield Circle) 8:00AM 8:30AM 9:00AM 9:30AM 3:00PM 3:30PM Thursday April 25, 2019
The first shuttle will depart from the Terrace Lobby of the Washington Hilton at approximately 7:00 a.m. and continue to depart from the Hilton every half-hour until 3:00 p.m. Shuttles will pick-up on Capitol Hill every half-hour, with the last shuttle departing from Capitol Hill at 3:30 p.m.
Example Shuttle Schedule:*
Departs Hilton Arrives House Side (Garfield Circle) 7:00 AM 7:30 AM 7:30AM 8:00AM 8:00AM 8:30AM 3:00PM 3:30PM *Please note that all shuttle times are approximate. We will do our best to keep to the above schedule; however traffic and other unforeseen circumstances could cause delays.
www.cfsi.org Schedule of Events
*Seminar schedule is tentative and subject to change.* WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019 Opening Session: Exchanging Knowledge to Advance Our Mission 10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton
The Continuing Evolution of Fire Service-Based EMS 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton
Fire and Emergency Services Personnel Safety Enhanced with the Adoption of NFPA 4 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton
Highway Incident Safety with Connected and Autonomous Vehicles 12:00 noon - 12:50 p.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton
Using Data to Tell the Story: Fire Department Response Capability and Performance 12:00 noon - 12:50 p.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton
The Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton
The Need for National Response Policies: Increasing Responder and Civilian Safety Through a Like-Minded Approach to Turning Out for Incidents 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton
Taking Care of Each Other: Cancer and Behavioral Health in the Fire Service 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton
NFPA 3000: Standard for an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton
Surviving the Fire Service: Translating a Decade of Science to the Street 3:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton
Everyone Goes Home in the Wildland: The NFFF/WFF Effort to Improve Safety in the Wild- land and Wildland-Urban Interface Environment 3:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton
CFSI Bistro Bash & Silent Auction Sponsored by LION, DuPONT, & IAAI 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Bistro Bistro (1727 Connecticut Avenue, NW)
www.cfsi.org Schedule of Events
*Seminar schedule is tentative and subject to change.* THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019 Smart Smoke Alarms and New UL Testing Standards for Safety and Performance 10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton
Leadership Strategies for Promoting an Inclusive Fire and Emergency Services 10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton
Data Analytics, Essential for Quality Service 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton
Time to Hit the P.A.N.I.C. Button! Community Risk Reduction is Here to Stay 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton
The Impact of Drones on the Fire Service and Public Safety 12:00 noon - 12:50 p.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton
50 Retention & Recruitment Tips in 50 Minutes 12:00 noon - 12:50 p.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton
CFSI Town Hall Meeting: Preventing Occupational Illnesses, Injuries, and Deaths 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Georgetown Room, Washington Hilton
GENERAL RECEPTION 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. International Terrace, Washington Hilton
31st ANNUAL NATIONAL FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES DINNER “EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE TO ADVANCE OUR MISSION” 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. International Ballroom, Washington Hilton
SAVE THE DATE! 32nd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner April 29-30, 2020 Washington Hilton 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC
www.cfsi.org 11 Seminar Schedule Wednesday, April 24, 2019
(All seminars are eligible for 0.1 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from Columbia Southern University)
Opening Session: Exchanging Knowledge to Advance Our Mission 10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton The opening session will reflect upon the mission of the national fire services organizations as it relates to advocacy on Capitol Hill, and how that mission has evolved over time. What lessons can current fire service leaders impart on the next generation of advocates? What are some of the challenges we will face in the future? Moderator: Bill Webb, Congressional Fire Services Institute Kevin O’Connor, O’Connor CARES Solutions Andy Quinn, McAllister & Quinn Seth Statler, National Fire Protection Association
The Continuing Evolution of Fire Service-Based EMS 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton Fire Service-Based EMS policies, regulations, response models, training and other requirements continue to evolve. These critical service delivery systems have become sophisticated in every aspect of management and practice. This session covers recent evolutionary changes in fire service-based EMS in the areas of deployment, response, emergency transportation, and integrated community health care. Panelists will also discuss the ongoing work of the Fire Service-Based EMS Advocates. Moderator: Chief Dennis Compton, International Fire Service Training Association Panelists: Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, International Association of Fire Fighters/International Public Safety Data Institute Steve Austin, Congressional Fire Services Institute’s Board of Directors Chief Mary Cameli, Mesa (AZ) Fire and Medical Department
Fire and Emergency Services Personnel Safety Enhanced with the Adoption of NFPA 4 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton NFPA 4 (Standard for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System Testing) was developed to provide a level of confidence that active and passive fire protection and life safety systems are installed and tested as required by codes and standards, and as specified by the design documents and local ordinances. Proper Integrated Testing is needed to ensure that these systems will provide the level of fire and life safety protection for building occupants and first responders required by the applicable building codes. This seminar will cover the history of NFPA 4 and explain the basic requirements, scope and application of the standard. Panelists: Terry Victor, Johnson Controls Division Chief John T. Lane, Anne Arundel County (MD) Fire Department Terin Hopkins, National Fire Sprinkler Association
Highway Incident Safety with Connected and Autonomous Vehicles 12:00 noon - 12:50 p.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton Highway Incident Safety is a primary concern of emergency services personnel who respond to motor vehicle crashes, vehicle fires, brush fires, medical assists, hazardous materials incidents and other emergencies along the nation’s roads and highways. Distracted drivers pose serious safety risks to firefighters and EMTs every time they respond to a highway incident, while the emergence of new automotive technology both hinder and help in response efforts. Panel members will discuss the benefits of connected vehicle technology for the fire and emergency services. They will also address some hazards and concerns presented by semi-autonomous and fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) operating on roadways nationwide. As technology advances, it presents both benefits and challenges for scene safety and fire service leaders need to understand both to be able to collaborate with government officials as they race to accommodate and accept AVs on local roadways. Panelists: Steve Austin, Congressional Fire Services Institute’s Board of Directors Cory Hohs, HAAS Alert Jack Sullivan, CVVFA Emergency Responder Safety Institute
Using Data to Tell the Story: Fire Department Response Capability and Performance 12:00 noon - 12:50 p.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton One of the greatest challenges for public safety is measuring its value in a quantifiable manner. The importance of data collection, analysis and reporting cannot be overstated. Data and the information gleaned from it can confirm the need for prevention and public education programs, and optimum emergency response capabilities that include appropriately staffed and deployed apparatus necessary to ensure optimal performance and positive outcomes. Fire department leaders and political decision-makers need to understand how fire department resource deployment in their local communities affects response outcomes inthree important areas: firefighter injury and death, civilian injury and death, and economic loss. Panel members will offer their insights on the effectiveness of specific data-gathering and analytical systems in addressing these three areas. Moderator: Chief Dennis Compton, International Fire Service Training Association Panelists: Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, International Association of Fire Fighters/International Public Safety Data Institute Tyler Garner, Prominent Edge LLC
www.cfsi.org Seminar Schedule Wednesday, April 24, 2019
The Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton Cancer is a leading cause of illness and death in the fire service due in part to the multiple carcinogens to which firefighters are exposed. While we are making progress in understanding cancer as an occupational disease, there’s much we need to learn to reduce the threat and provide better treatment. Supported by an initial 3-year framework development grant from FEMA,the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study (FFCCS) was established to gain greater insight into the cancer risks faced by the fire service. The seminar will describe our progress towards: (1) establishing a fire service oversight and planning board to provide study oversight and foster communication among fire organizations; (2) creating a data coordinating center and harmonized survey data protocols; (3) developing and validating a firefighter carcinogen exposure matrix and exposure data collection system; and (4) creating a biomarker assessment center to identify cellular mechanisms by which firefighter exposures increase cancer risk. Moderator: Dr. Jefferey L. Burgess, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health Panelists: Casey Grant, Fire Protection Research Foundation Dr. Alberto Caban-Martinez, University of Miami Miller School for Medicine Dr. Kenneth Fent, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
The Need for National Response Policies: Increasing Responder and Civilian Safety Through a Like-Minded Approach to Turning Out for Incidents 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton For over a decade, vehicle-related deaths remain the second leading cause of firefighter fatalities. This statistic and the related short- and long-term human suffering that results have remained relatively static for over a decade. We must do more to address this problem. Panel members will share their knowledge on this issue and offer important steps that every firefighter behind the wheel should take to reduce vehicle-related fatalities in the fire service. Moderator: Chief John Tippett, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Panelists: M. Kyle Minick, South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association Kevin Roche, FACETS Consulting Mike Wieder, International Fire Service Training Association
Taking Care of Each Other: Cancer and Behavioral Health in the Fire Service 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton This seminar will cover the importance of taking care of each other in the fire and emergency service. Panelists will focus on 11 best practices outlined in the 2018 Lavender Ribbon Report to implement in your department to help prevent firefighter cancer. In addition, panelists will discuss a proactive approach to ensure firefighter mental wellness as outlined in the VCOS Yellow Ribbon Report. Panelists: Chief Charles Flynn, International Association of Fire Chiefs Volunteer and Combination Officers’ Section Chief Norvin Collins, International Association of Fire Chiefs Volunteer and Combination Officers’ Section Chief Brian F. McQueen, National Volunteer Fire Council Chief Kevin D. Quinn, National Volunteer Fire Council
NFPA 3000: Standard for an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton The seminar will cover the impetus and content of NFPA 3000, the new national standard for Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER) programs. As part of their presentation panelists will describe the content of the standard and give examples of why and how it is being used, and outreach efforts to educate first responders about the new standard. Moderator: John Montes, National Fire Protection Association Panelists: Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, International Association of Fire Fighters/International Public Safety Data Institute Paul Brooks, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Chief Otto Drozd, Orange County (FL) Fire and Rescue Department
Surviving the Fire Service: Translating a Decade of Science to the Street 3:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton This session reviews the most relevant research conducted on firefighter health, wellness and survival of the past decade, with a focus on the three preventable occupational health threats to firefighters: cancer, cardiovascular and behavioral health. The presentation will also focus on personnel and departmental case studies and strategies that have been effective in mitigating these risks and assuring the highest level of firefighter and organizational survival. Presenter: Chief Todd LeDuc, International Association of Fire Chief’s Association Safety, Health & Survival Section
www.cfsi.org Seminar Schedule Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Everyone Goes Home in the Wildland: The NFFF/WFF Effort to Improve Safety in the Wildland and Wildland-Urban Interface Environment 3:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton The threat of fire in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) is leaving few areas of the country untouched. Thousands of firefighters across the nation have been deployed in recent years to suppress these fires that have destroyed homes and caused significant loss of life. With the number of WUI fires on the rise, a new generation of firefighters will require additional training and knowledge to respond to these fires, while minimizing the threat to their own safety. This seminar will address the scope of the wildland firefighting problem and outline the joint efforts by two organizations, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Wildland Firefighters Foundation, to reduce future line-of-duty deaths in wildland fires, appropriately honor a loss when itoccurs,and support the families and co-workers after a tragedy. Moderator: Chief John Tippett, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Panelists: Rick Best, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Chief Tom Harbour, International Association of Wildland Fire Kimberly Lightly, U.S. Forest Service Robert Madden, Bend (OR) Fire Department Rick Mason, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Seminar Schedule Thursday, April 25, 2019
Smart Smoke Alarms and New UL Testing Standards for Safety and Performance 10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton This seminar will give an overview of the latest safety and performance requirements for new “smart” smoke alarms. Participants will learn how research has enhanced technology that can recognize different fire and smoke characteristics created by changes in home design, building techniques and modern furnishings and how this new technology is being incorporated in the new smoke alarms that are expected to be in the marketplace in 2019. These changes will show how smart smoke alarms will enhance safety in residential occupancies. The presenter will discuss the advancement of “multi-criteria” sensing technology and how these new alarms will be less likely to alert from nuisance sources such as cooking smoke. Presenter: Chief Sean DeCrane, Underwriters Laboratories
Leadership Strategies for Promoting an Inclusive Fire and Emergency Services 10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton Maintaining an open and inclusive workplace is critical to the successful operation of a fire department. Fire and emergency services personnel should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their backgrounds. Leadership is a critical component in creating this environment. This seminar will review examples of successful practices that have been implemented throughout the country and provide fire service leaders with the tools to enact positive change in their departments. Moderator: Preet Bassi, Center for Public Safety Excellence Panelists: Chris Neal, CFSI Board of Directors Chief Josh Waldo, Bozeman (MT) Fire Department Battalion Chief Cindy Bonham, Charlotte (NC) Fire Department
Data Analytics, Essential for Quality Service 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton This seminar will address the value of data analytics as essential tools for developing a community risk assessment for a proactive community risk reduction (CRR) program. The presentation will define the specific elements required for risk assessment, recommend how to use the data to define risks, and establish mitigation plans to minimize risks. It will also demonstrate how a solid risk assessment and CRR program benefits a community in their ISO grading and service delivery. Panelists: Chief Tom Weber, ISO Chief Sheldon Gilbert, Emergency Services Consulting International
www.cfsi.org Seminar Schedule Thursday, April 25, 2019
Time to Hit the P.A.N.I.C. Button! Community Risk Reduction is Here to Stay 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton Find out what the P.A.N.I.C. is all about. Community risk reduction (CRR) is a process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by the integrated and strategic investment of resources to reduce the occurrence and impact of those risks. Fire departments have much to gain by implementing comprehensive CRR program, but many of them are hindered by certain challenges. During this ses- sion, panelists will break down 5 strategic actions modeled in the acronym P.A.N.I.C. that drive successful CRR implementation, using model CRR programs to illustrate their points. Additionally, panel members will address how CRR adds value to fire department operations by improving response capabilities and safety for first responders. Panelists: Karen Berard-Reed, National Fire Protection Association Dr. Matt Hinds-Aldrich, National Fire Protection Association Chelsea Rubadou, National Fire Protection Association
The Impact of Drones on the Fire Service and Public Safety 12:00 noon - 12:50 p.m. Georgetown West, Washington Hilton Participants will learn about the impact of drones on all aspects of the fire service and public safety. Additionally, participants will learn about the standards (NFPA, APSA, ANSI, ASTM) and FAA regulations that outline the requirements necessary to implement a safe, effective and legal fire service drone program. This seminar will also take a look at the challenges posed by unauthorized drones and counter-drone technology, and the legal issues surrounding those technologies. Presenter: Chief Charles Werner, National Council on Public Safety UAS
50 Retention & Recruitment Tips in 50 Minutes 12:00 noon - 12:50 p.m. Georgetown East, Washington Hilton The volunteer fire and EMS service is experiencing its biggest challenge to date with volunteer retention and recruitment. In today’s era of competing demands for the volunteer/potential volunteer, the question becomes, “What strategies are volunteer fire depart- ments using to successfully retain and recruit volunteers?” Join Retention & Recruitment experts Dr. Candice McDonald and Chief Tiger Schmittendorf as they team up to share a rapid-fire overview of the research and the real-world resources available to success- fully retain and recruit volunteer firefighters. These highlighted strategies offer practical professional applications. Participants will leave with an introduction to the tools and resources to improve retention and recruitment outcomes. Panelists: Dr. Candice McDonald, Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association Chief Tiger Schmittendorf, First Arriving
CFSI Town Hall Meeting: Preventing Occupational Illnesses, Injuries, and Deaths 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Georgetown Room, Washington Hilton Firefighter health and safety is garnering more attention than at any time in our history. Research continues to show that firefighters face significantly higher risks for cardiovascular disease and cancers than the general population due largely to repeated exposures to heat and toxins, and exertion under extreme conditions. In addition to the physical hazards, firefighters often suffer emotional and mental stress after responding to traumatic situations. Access to comprehensive wellness programs that address both the physi- cal and psychological health issues are critical. Fortunately, the mindset that firefighter deaths and injuries are an “acceptable” part of our calling is no longer an accepted norm. However, without sustainability through appropriate support and resources, we are at risk of losing momentum. This town hall meeting will feature an open discussion between attendees and subject matter experts representing several of the nation’s prominent fire service organizations to address this sustainable need. Moderator: Chief Ron Siarnicki, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Participants: Dr. Sara Jahnke, Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research Chief Todd LeDuc, International Association of Fire Chief’s Association Safety, Health & Survival Section John Niemiec, International Association of Fire Fighters Chief Kevin D. Quinn, National Volunteer Fire Council
THANK YOU
The Congressional Fire Services Institute’s Board of Directors and staff sincerely thank all of our modera- tors and panelists for volunteering their time and expertise to make the 31st Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium a success. We also thank our friends at Columbia Southern University, the exclusive provider of continuing education units (CEUs) for the Symposium. And finally, thank you to all of you who are attending the Symposium, as well as the 31st Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner. Your continued support of the Institute helps us as we all work together in “Exchaning Knowledge to Advance Our Mission.”
www.cfsi.org Panelists and Moderators
Steve Austin is a 55-year veteran of the volunteer fire service and a member of the CFSI Board of Directors. A life member of the Aetna Hose, Hook, and Ladder Company of Newark, DE, Steve served as President of the Delaware Volunteer Firefighter’s Association (DVFA) between 1999 and 2000 and is the current chair of the DVFA Foundation. On the national level, he holds a number of posi- tions, including Chairman of the NFPA 1091 Technical Committee on Traffic Control Incident Management Professional Qualifications; Project Manager of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Associations’ Emergency Responder Safety Institute; member of the International Fire Service Training Association Executive Board; and liaison to the IAFC Safety Health and Survival Section Board. Steve served as a public policy analyst for State Farm Insurance before retiring following a 37-year career with the company.
Preet Bassi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). Overseeing work across all program areas, including the accreditation of fire departments and credentialing of fire officers, she focuses on the strategic direction of CPSE as set by the Board of Directors. Preet holds a master’s in Public Administration, a certificate in Political Management from the University of Southern California, and a B.A. in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Education from the University of California Davis. She received her Certified Association Executive credential through the American Society of Association Executives in 2017. Prior to CPSE, she served as the Director of Finance and Administration for the International Accreditation Service (IAS) and managed the IAS Fire and Life Safety and Building Department Accreditation Programs. In addition to her experience in the international accreditation arena, Preet has experience at both the local and state levels, having worked for the City of Anaheim, CA and the California State Assembly.
Karen Berard-Reed was a senior project manager in the Public Education Division of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) from 2013 through 2017. In her primary role, she managed NFPA’s high-risk outreach activities, creating education materials with a focus on safety for young children, older adults, and underserved communities. Karen directed NFPA’s fire and fall prevention pro- gram, Remembering When. This program is designed to help older adults live safely at home without fear of fire or fall-related inju- ries. She also worked closely with the NFPA Urban Fire and Life Safety Task Force, was involved in school outreach activities such as the Learn Not to Burn® program, and managed the NFPA Rural Fire and Life Safety Education initiative. In 2018, Karen joined the Commu- nity Risk Reduction (CRR) initiative as a strategist at NFPA, performing an integral role in directing the association’s efforts today and beyond around this important work. Before coming to NFPA, Karen worked in the prevention and health education field in K-12 public schools, higher education, and community settings. She is also an instructor at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Rick Best is a nationally recognized leader in firefighter health and safety. He has more than 20 years of experience in fire service training, program development, and public speaking. He currently serves as the Everyone Goes Home® Advocates Program Manager for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Rick began his career as a volunteer firefighter and worked his way into a full-time position for the City of Westerville (OH) Division of Fire. Rick has conducted presentations at Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World, and FRI, as well as multiple state, local, and regional fire service events. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from Neumann University and is currently working on a master’s degree in Strategic & Organizational Leadership.
Chief Cindy Bonham is a Battalion Chief and Health and Safety Officer with the Charlotte (NC) Fire Department. She has been with the department for 25 years. Chief Bonham has been extensively involved with fire accreditation, serving both the Charlotte Fire Department as the Assistant Accreditation Manager from 2000-2005 and the Accreditation Manager from 2005-2010. She is a team leader, technical advisor, and technical reviewer for the Center for Public Safety Excellence and has been involved with the Center since 1999. She is active in the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and has been a member of the IAFC’s Safety, Health, and Survival Section since its inception. Chief Bonham has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina-Pembroke. She received her CFO designation through the Commission on Professional Credentialing in 2005.
Paul Brooks is an EMS Program Manager with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruc- tion Office/Operational EMS Support Branch. He is currently leading DHS’s efforts to improve survivability in active shooter events through a more integrated response among first responders. Mr. Brooks is also the program manager for the national Stop the Bleed campaign. Prior to joining federal service, Paul was a firefighter/paramedic in both career and volunteer departments, and practiced EMS in volunteer, commercial, and hospital-based EMS systems throughout the Northeast and Virginia. He was the first Deputy Commander of the Connecticut Disaster Medical Assistance Team (CT-1 DMAT), as well as the Lead Paramedic in the tactical medical support program for the Connecticut Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He serves in the United States Navy Reserve as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. Paul has a BA in Homeland Security and has been a paramedic since 1987.
Dr. Jefferey L. Burgess, MD, MS, MPH is the Associate Dean for Research at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. He also serves as the Director of the Biomarker Analysis Center for the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study. His research on firefighters spans more than 25 years and encompasses a wide range of topics including risk management, respiratory protection, injury prevention, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In regards to cancer research, Dr. Burgess is currently serving as the Principal Investigator for two FEMA grants: “Cancer Prevention in the Fire Service: Exposure Assessment, Toxic Effects and Risk Management,” which started in 2015, and “The Firefighter Multicenter Cancer Cohort Study: Framework Development and Testing,” which was initiated in 2016. In addition to his research and teaching, Dr. Burgess has also worked as an emergency medicine physician, medical toxicologist, and occupational and environmental medicine physician.
www.cfsi.org Panelists and Moderators
Dr. Alberto Caban-Martinez is a public health, board-certified osteopathic physician, an occupational epidemiologist, and a tenure- track Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami (UM) Miller School of Medicine. His research primarily examines cancer burden and risk factors in the first responder workforce. Since July 2015, Dr. Caban-Martinez has served as the Deputy Director of the Firefighter Cancer Initiative at the UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Co-Principal Investigator of the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study, including serving as Director of the Data Coordinating Center. He was recently awarded a new FEMA research grant to expand the FFCCS to include firefighter subgroups (i.e., Fire Instructors, Arson Investigators, Volunteers, and wildland firefighters).
Chief Mary Cameli is the Fire Chief of the Mesa Fire and Medical Department in Phoenix, Arizona. She began her career as a firefighter in 1983 with the Mesa Fire and Medical Department and was one of the first females hired by the organization. She held each rank in the organization including Assistant Chief for 11 years, prior to being selected as Fire Chief. Mary received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary and Physical Education and holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management. Mary is a past president of the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA) and past chair of the Child Crisis Arizona Board. She has served the past 12 years with Mesa Sunrise Ro- tary, holding the position of president in 2012. Mary currently serves as a member of the Community Bridges Board and is a member of the AFCA Board. She has served on several IFSTA Validation committees, including Occupational Health and Safety, Essentials, and Chief Officer. Mary is currently the Vice Chair of the IFSTA Executive Board.
Chief Norvin Collins was selected as Sauvie Island (OR) Fire District’s first paid fire chief in 2010. Chief Collins previously served as a Division Chief for Tualatin Valley (OR) Fire & Rescue where he held the ranks of firefighter/paramedic, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, and division chief. Additionally, he served as the district’s volunteer coordinator for five years, overseeing the volunteer opera- tions for Oregon’s largest combination department. Chief Collins is an Elected Board member of the IAFC’s Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) and holds positions on the VCOS national conference planning committee and the VCOS VISION Project. He is also a Planning Section Chief for a regional Type III Incident Management Team, and a member of numerous committees both internal and external to the fire service. Chief Collins holds a B.S. in Fire Administration, an M.S. in Psychology, and EFO credentials through the National Fire Academy.
Chief Dennis Compton is a respected executive advisor, a well-known speaker, and the author of several books. He has also authored many chapters and articles for various publications. Chief Compton was the Fire Chief in Mesa, Arizona for five years and Assistant Fire Chief in Phoenix where he served for 28 years. He is the Past Chairman of the Executive Board of the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) and Past Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) National Advisory Committee (NAC). Chief Compton is currently the Chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) Board of Directors. He is a past recipient of several national awards, including the 2003 CFSI/Motorola Mason Lankford National Fire Service Leadership Award.
Chief Sean DeCrane retired as a 25-year veteran of the Cleveland (OH) Division of Fire. He rose through the ranks, serving in various roles including the Director of Training and Acting Chief of Operations. He retired as a Battalion Chief covering Cleveland’s Westside. Chief DeCrane is currently the Manager of Industry Relations for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Building Life Safety, Security and Technologies Division. He has been very involved in the research at UL and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He serves on the UL Fire Council, is a member of the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute’s Advisory Board and is currently on a number of technical panels for research and standards. Chief DeCrane also represented the International Association of Fire Fighters in the International Code Council (ICC) process and has served on the Fire Code Developing Committee, including as Chair in 2015 and 2018. Chief DeCrane served on the NFPA 1 Technical Advisory Panel, NFPA Research Foundation on Tall Wood Buildings and is serving as the Chair of the Fire Test Work Group for the ICC Tall Wood Building Ad Hoc Committee.
Chief Otto Drozd began his career with the Hialeah (FL) Fire Department in 1986. During his tenure, he progressed through all ranks from firefighter to Deputy Chief before becoming Fire Chief in 2001. In 2009, Chief Drozd became Fire Chief of El Paso (TX) Fire Depart- ment and led the department to become one of only five metro departments to achieve international accreditation and an ISO Class One rating. In 2017, under Chief Drozd’s leadership, Orange County (FL) Fire Rescue was awarded the CFSI/Masimo Award for Excel- lence in Fire Service-Based EMS. After the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, FL, in which 49 people were killed, Chief Drozd asked the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to develop the first ever national consensus standard for active shooter/hostile events. The resulting NFPA 3000 outlines the whole community approach to preparing, preventing, responding, and recovering from active shooter/hostile events. Chief Drozd is currently the Second Vice President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
Dr. Kenneth Fent obtained his MS and Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Fent joined the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in 2008, where he currently works as a research industrial hygienist. He is also a Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service and has responded to domestic and interna- tional public health emergencies. Much of Dr. Fent’s research has focused on assessing dermal and inhalation exposures to combustion byproducts in firefighters. He has published over 45 technical reports and journal articles and has presented his findings nationally and internationally. Dr. Fent serves as the Director of the Exposure Assessment Center for the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study.
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Chief Charles “Chuck” Flynn is Chief of the Suffield (CT) Fire Department. He began his fire service career in 1978 as an Explorer with the Wethersfield (CT) Volunteer Fire Department, ascending to Chief of the Department prior to accepting his current position in 2012. Previously, he worked in the telecommunications industry for 25 years with AT&T and served as Training and Education Coordinator for the Communication Workers of America Local 1298 for eight years. Chief Flynn is a certified Fire Officer IV and actively instructs as- anAd junct Instructor for the Connecticut Fire Academy. He currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Volunteer and Com- bination Officers’ Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and is the Connecticut Director of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs since 2011. Chief Flynn was inducted into the State of Connecticut Firefighters Association Hall of Fame in April of 2017.
Tyler Garner is a Principal Software Engineer, Chief Operating Officer, and co-founder of Prominent Edge LLC. He is the architect and technical project manager for several large public safety projects including the Fire-Community Assessment Response Evaluation System (FireCARES) and the National Fire Operations Reporting System (NFORS). He is a principal member of NFPA Technical Committees 950, Standard for Data Development and Exchange for the Fire Service, and 951, Guide to Building and Utilizing Digital Information. Mr. Garner began his service in the public safety sector as a volunteer firefighter over ten years ago. As a technologist, he began working with fire department Computer Aided Dispatch systems, Records Management applications, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) supporting the Richmond Fire Department. He transitioned to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) where he worked on the Readiness, Response and Recovery team, providing support during national emergency responses for the White House, FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Teams, the Secret Service, USAID, and other customers. He left the NGA to become a senior software engineer on the Army Geospatial Center’s ROGUE project.
Chief Sheldon Gilbert is the CEO of Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI), the consulting arm of the International As- sociation of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). He began his fire service career in 1984 with the Fairview (CA) Fire Protection District before joining the Eden (CA) Consolidated Fire Protection District in 1986. In 1993, he joined the Alameda County (CA) Fire Department (ACFD) where he rose to the rank of Chief. Chief Gilbert received his paramedic training from Stanford University Hospital/Foothill College and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. He is a certified Executive Fire Officer from the National Fire Academy and is a graduate of the Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He served as a Governor- Appointee and Chair of the CA EMS Commission. For six years, Chief Gilbert served as President of the California Fire Chiefs Association and received the organization’s 2011 Fire Chief of the Year Award. In addition, Sheldon received a California Emergency Medical Services Authority Distinguished Service Medal in 2012.
Casey Grant is the Executive Director and former Research Director for the Fire Protection Research Foundation, a non-profit organi- zation that works with the National Fire Protection Association as its research affiliate. He is a registered professional engineer in fire protection engineering in California and Tennessee and is a fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and the Institute of Fire Engineers. Prior to joining the Research Foundation in 2007, Casey was the secretary of the NFPA Standards Council and assistant chief engineer for nearly 20 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, both in fire protection engineering. For the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study, Casey serves as the Director of the Oversight and Planning Board.
Chief Tom Harbour is a recognized expert in wildland fire and aviation management policy and operations. He served the longest term to date as the National Fire and Aviation Management Director in the more than hundred-year history of the US Forest Service. Cur- rently a member of the Advisory Committee to the NFFF Board of Directors, Harbour contributes his experience and knowledge to help the Foundation reduce line of duty deaths, accidents, and injuries. He is a member of the Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors of the NFFF. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the International Association of Wildland Fire. Chief Harbour has had opportunities to fight, prescribe, and manage wildland fires across the United States and internationally. He has been an Incident Com- mander (Type 1) and an Area Commander.
Dr. Matt Hinds-Aldrich works for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), leading the development of a new national fire data system and a wider effort to facilitate and improve how fire departments across the country and globe collect, analyze and use data to focus their efforts, improve their operations, and demonstrate their value. He previously worked for Atlanta (GA) Fire Rescue Depart- ment as a Senior Management Analyst and at Anna Maria College as an Assistant Professor and interim Fire Science Program Director. His Ph.D. research at the University of Kent (England) focused on occupational culture. He has researched and written extensively on the concept of behavioral economics in public safety. His work has appeared in several national and international publications and he has been presented at major conferences across the US and Britain.
Cory Hohs is the CEO and Co-Founder of “HAAS Alert,” a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication platform connecting city fleet vehicles w/motorists and connected/autonomous vehicles. The V2V technology enables first responders, utility, telecom, construction, and other vehicle fleets to alert motorists to roadway hazards and emergencies in real-time. Cities/OEMs can integrate traffic data into auto, navigation, traffic, and smart city grids, applications and onboard infotainment systems available today. He is a Founding Member of the Illinois Autonomous Vehicle Association and his firm was selected as a Top 100 GovTech company of 2018.
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Terin Hopkins is a Field Service Coordinator at the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) with over 36 years of service in public safety. He started his career in 1982 as a Volunteer Firefighter/EMT. He served for 25 years with the Prince George’s County (MD) Fire/ EMS Department, retiring in 2009 as a Fire Lieutenant Paramedic. He then went to work for the Howard County (MD) Department of Fire Rescue Services, Office of the Fire Marshal, as a Fire Inspector specializing in large-scale fire protection systems in existing structures. In the spring of 2018, Hopkins accepted a position with the NFSA as the Mid-Atlantic Field Service Coordinator. His key role is working on the development of both ICC and NFPA codes. He also focuses on outreach and the coordination of training for the fire service on water-based fire protection systems.
Dr. Sara Jahnke is the Director of the Center for Fire, Rescue and EMS Health Research at the National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. She completed her doctorate in Psychology with a Health Emphasis at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and the American Heart Association’s Fellowship on the Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. She has served as the Principal Investigator of several large-scale studies on the health and readiness of the U.S. Fire Service funded by FEMA’s AFG grants and a quali- tative study of health and wellness of firefighters for the American Heart Association. Dr. Jahnke grew up around the fire service as her dad, Bill Jahnke, retired after more than a decade as Chief of the Overland Park Fire Department in the Kansas City suburbs.
Chief John T. Lane, CFPS started his career in 1986 with the Anne Arundel County (MD) Fire Department as a Firefighter/EMT. He served in several divisions throughout his career and rose through the ranks from FFII, FFIII (Driver), Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief and is currently the Division Chief, Fire Marshal. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science with a minor in Technology and Management from the University of Maryland University College and an Associate of Applied Science – Fire Protection Technology from Catonsville Community College. He is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist and teaches several classes for the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute.
Chief Todd LeDuc, MS, CFO, FIFirE is the Executive Assistant Fire Chief for Broward County, FL, an internationally accredited metro -de partment, where he has served for the past 28 years. He holds a master’s degree in executive fire service leadership, is a peer reviewer for both agency accreditation and professional credentialing, as well as a Fellow in the Institute of Fire Engineers. He is the Secretary of the International Association of Fire Chief’s Safety, Health & Survival Section. Chief LeDuc was awarded the 2013 Center for Public Safety Excellence “Ambassador of the Year” recognition and has been recognized by both the IAFC and IAFF for his leadership.
Kimberly Lightley is a Critical Incident Specialist with the United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management. She has devoted her career to teaching firefighters and members of other organizations about the rigors and hazards of firefighting as well as managing stress during hazardous situations. Kimberly’s passion is the result of surviving the deadly 1994 Storm King Mountain Fire in South Canyon, CO, where nine fellow members of the Prineville Hotshot Team were killed, along with two U.S. Forest Service Smokejumpers and a Bureau of Land Management Helitack member. She is widely recognized in the wildland firefighting community for her compassion and candor.
Robert Madden has been a member of the Bend (OR) Fire Department for the past 32 years. In this position, he has had the opportunity to manage resources on several large and complex interface fire incidents. Bob is a recognized instructor for several fire suppression skill and Incident Command System courses. He has been involved with Type 1 and 2 Incident Management Teams since 1998, serving as Division Supervisor, Operations Branch Director, Structure Protection Specialist, Air Tactical Group Supervisor, and Operations Section Chief. Prior to joining the Bend Fire Department, Bob spent ten years as a wildland firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service in Northern California and Oregon, including seven seasons as a smokejumper. He also worked for two years as a firefighter in Montgomery County, MD.
Rick Mason retired from the New Hampshire fire service in February 2011 and has been the Training and Education Coordinator for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) ever since. His responsibilities include overseeing and maintaining the currency, relevancy, and value of the training and educational programs of the NFFF. In 1996 he was appointed the head of fire training in New Hampshire, and in 2001, the state added EMS oversight to his responsibilities. He was among the first group of Chief Fire Officer Designees in 2000 by the Center for Public Safety Excellence. He was a member of the Commission on Professional Credentialing for nine years, serving as the commission chair for three years. Rick was an active member of the North American Fire Training Directors, serving as its president for two years. He also holds a Fellow level member in the Institution of Fire Engineers and is very active in the Boy Scouts in New Hampshire.
Dr. Candice McDonald is a firefighter/public information officer with the Sebring (OH) Fire Department. She works full-time for NASA as a physical security specialist/federal special agent. She is a member of the FDIC/Fire Engineering Advisory Board, a director of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association, and an iWomen Trustee. She has been identified by the U.S. Fire Administration as a subject matter expert in recruitment and retention. She is a published author, national speaker, host of the Success Up Life Podcast and has provided consulting services for numerous organizations over the past twenty years. She holds a Doctor of Business Administration with a specialty in homeland security, a master’s degree in organizational leadership, a bachelor’s in degree in business administration, and an associate’s degree in health and human services.
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Brian F. McQueen is a retired volunteer Fire Chief of the Whitesboro (NY) Fire Department. He is a forty-year member of the volunteer service. Brian is active on the county and state level with the Oneida County Fire Chiefs Association, Oneida County Volunteer Fire- men’s Association and the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) where he served 10 years as a director. He is also an occupational cancer survivor and is a member of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) where he currently sits on the Executive Committee and is Co-Chairman of the Cancer Task Force. Brian represents the NVFC on the National Firefighter’s Cancer Alliance.
M. Kyle Minick began his fire service career as a volunteer firefighter with the City of Newberry (SC) Fire Department before being hired by the Town of Mount Pleasant (SC) Fire Department in 1999. In 2006, he joined the James Island (SC) Fire Department as deputy chief, serving until 2008 when he was offered a position with the City of North Charleston Fire Department as deputy chief. In 2018, he- ac cepted a position as executive director for the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science Degree and Southern Wesleyan University in 2005 with a Master of Science in Management. He was designated a Chief Fire Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence in 2008, a member of the Institution of Fire -Engi neers in 2009, a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program through the National Fire Academy in 2010, as well as a graduate of the inaugural South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association Leadership Institute in 2011.
John Montes is an Emergency Services Specialist at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), currently assigned as staff liaison to the technical committees for fire service training, EMS, fire service occupational safety and health, and the active shooter response standard programs. A nationally registered EMT, John has worked in EMS in several different roles -- from the private service and Boston EMS, to serving as an EMS Specialist/EMS Duty Chief for the County of Santa Clara EMS Agency. In his role at the NFPA, John is assigned as representative to the Joint National EMS Leadership Forum, National EMS Advisory Council, and the Road to Zero Coalition.
Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, the Assistant to the General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), is in charge of Technical Assistance for Labor Issues and Collective Bargaining, Fire and EMS Operations, and IAFF Field Services. She has extensive expertise in emergency response system design, staffing and deployment of mobile resources, system performance measurement, and evaluation. She began her career as a firefighter/paramedic with the Memphis (TN) Fire Department and Local 1784. She joined the IAFF headquarters operation in 1993. Lori holds an undergraduate degree in education and EMS from the University of Memphis and has masters and doctoral degrees from the George Washington University School of Public Health. She was a recipient of the prestigious James O. Page Achievement Award by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and was recently awarded the Dr. John Granito Award for Excellence in Fire Leadership and Management Research.
Chief Chris Neal retired from the fire service in 1998 after serving the previous ten years of his career as Fire Chief with the Claremore and Stillwater (OK) Fire Departments. He holds a master’s degree in political science, a bachelor’s in organizational administration, and an associate’s in fire protection technology and safety engineering from Oklahoma State University (OSU), and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program and a Fellow with the Institution of Fire Engineers. Over his career, Chris has served on boards and working committees including for the Congressional Fire Services Institute, National Fire Academy, IFSTA, NFPA, Fire Corps, Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association, and the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal Commission. Neal was also an instructor at OSU in the Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology undergraduate and Fire & Emergency Management graduate degree programs.
John Niemiec is currently serving as the Deputy Director of the Occupational and Behavioral Health Services Department in the Health, Safety and Medicine Division of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). John is responsible for the oversight of several programs including behavioral health, cancer and burn prevention, education, and treatment protocols. He recently retired from the Fairfax County (VA) Fire and Rescue Department after more than 31 years of experience, and served as President of the Fairfax County Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics – IAFF Local 2068 from 2007 through January 2018. John is a graduate of the National Labor College with a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health, coupled with a Certificate of Completion from the George -Wash ington University’s EMT-Paramedic Program.
Kevin O’Connor is the Founder and CEO of O’Connor CARES Solutions. He previously served as Assistant to the General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, supervising the Governmental and Public Affairs Department. Kevin served concurrently as President of the Maryland State & District of Columbia Professional Fire Fighters and the Baltimore County Professional Fire Fight- ers Local 1311. Along with those duties, Mr. O’Connor was a member of the Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIO Executive Board, serving as Vice President and Chairman of both the Legislative and Economic & Employment Affairs Committees. He is a former Trustee of the Baltimore County Government Retirement System. He has lectured in national and international forums on pension fund governance and investment issues. Kevin is the former chair on CFSI’s National Advisory Committee, and in 2010 he received the CFSI/ Motorola Solutions Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award.
Andy Quinn is a founding partner of McAllister & Quinn. Prior to founding McAllister & Quinn in 2004, Andy worked for approximately 10 years on the staff of Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD-5) assigned to appropriations and public safety issues. The McAllister & Quinn team offers a wide realm of expertise on federal issues, including health, life sciences, and defense/homeland security matters. Their growing team includes former federal agency staff members, former faculty with experience as principal investigators, and experts with specialized experience in defense and advanced technology. Based on his insights and understanding of both public safety and Congress, Andy was retained by the National Fire Sprinkler Association to help the association with the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act, which became law as part of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona where he received his B.S. in economics.
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Chief Kevin D. Quinn has 40 years of experience in the fire service. Recently retired as Deputy Chief of Union Fire District in Rhode Island, he serves as the National Volunteer Fire Council Chairman, and is a current member of the National Fire Academy’s Board of Visitors, a board member of the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, a past president of the Rhode Island State Firemen’s League, a Rhode Island State Advocate of the NFFF’s Everyone Goes Home-Courage to Be Safe Program, and a member of numerous federal, state, and local exercise design management teams. He holds a Master of Science in Counseling and Educational Psychology and a Master of Sci- ence in Education.
Kevin Roche is a FACETS partner. He retired in 2014 as Assistant to the Fire Chief of the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department. He has over 30 years of fire service management and consulting experience. Kevin has experience as a leader and member of a number of manage- ment consulting projects in large fire departments. During his career in Phoenix, Kevin managed the fire department’s planning, fire prevention, and logistics operations. He earned a B.S. degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in Political Science with a Certificate in Public Administration from the University of Florida.
Chelsea Rubadou currently works as a Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Strategist at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). She is also the staff liaison for important CRR documents including NFPA 1300, Standard on Community Risk Assessment and Commu- nity Risk Reduction Plan Development. Previously, she was an engineer on the Technical Services team at NFPA, where her assignments involved supporting various committees and developing solutions to meet stakeholder technical needs. Prior to joining NFPA, Chelsea was a mechanical engineer with Tyco Fire Protection Products. She earned her master’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Chief Tiger Schmittendorf is Vice President of Strategic Services for First Arriving, a full-service marketing team headquartered in Richmond, VA, focused on supporting public safety organizations. He served the Erie County (NY) Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Services for more than 20-years, and as Deputy Fire Coordinator was responsible for the recruitment, training and mutual aid operations of the county’s 97 fire departments and more than 6,000 firefighters. He created the county’s fire and EMS recruitment clearinghouse which helped infuse more than 700 new volunteers per year. He has actively served with the Evans Center Volunteer Fire Company in Angola NY since 1980. He is a frequent writer and presenter on the topics of incident command, emergency management and organizational leadership; highway safety, training, recruitment and retention.
Chief Ron Siarnicki is the former fire chief of the Prince George’s County (MD) Fire and EMS Department, where he served for more than 24 years. He is a well-known speaker and a member of many national fire service organizations. Chief Siarnicki currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
L. Seth Statler leads the government affairs team for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He is a member of the College Park (MD) Volunteer Fire Department and serves as treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. In 2009, Seth was appointed by to serve as associate administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. Prior to this appointment, he served as Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Congressional Affairs at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and as Assistant Commissioner for Congressional and Public Affairs at the legacy United States Customs Service. Seth previously worked for the House Appropriations Committee as staff for Congress- man Steny Hoyer (MD-5) and as a senior legislative aide to former Senator Paul Sarbanes (MD). He earned a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College and a master’s in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, where he currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor.
Jack Sullivan is the Director of Loss Control Innovations and Director of Training for the CVVFA/Emergency Responder Safety Institute. Jack is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) with 40 years of experience as a safety consultant and trainer. He is also a retired firefighter and fire officer with 25 years of service in three different fire departments having served as a safety officer, company officer, and Deputy Chief. Jack is a subject matter expert on Highway Incident Safety for emergency responders and a Master Instructor for the Federal High- way Administration Traffic Incident Management & Responder Safety program. In 2018 Jack was presented the Dave Dodson Lifetime Service Award from the Fire Department Safety Officers Association for his contributions to roadway safety for emergency services.
John Tippett is Director of Fire Service Programs for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). He joined NFFF in April 2018 after a 44-year career in the fire service. John spent 8 ½ years with the Charleston (SC) Fire Department as the department’s first deputy chief of operations and one year as interim fire chief. His work in Charleston involved assisting with the CFD’s recovery from the tragic Sofa Super Store Fire. Prior to Charleston, John worked his way through the ranks of the Montgomery County (MD) Fire and Rescue Service, achieving the rank of safety battalion chief. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science and a master’s degree in Emergency Services Management. John has worked extensively on officer development and firefighter safety initiatives throughout his career, including introducing Crew Resource Management to the fire service and the Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System.
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Terry Victor is the Senior Manager of Industry Relations at Johnson Controls (JCI)/Grinnell Fire Protection Solutions and has over 45 years of technical experience in the fire sprinkler industry. Serving on various industry boards and committees, he is JCI’s representative on the CFSI National Advisory Committee, a member of the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) Board of Directors, past chairman of the NFSA Engineering & Standards Committee, and current chairman of the NFSA ITM Committee. He is the JCI Regional Coordinator for Codes & Standards in the US, the current chairman of the Capital Region Fire Sprinkler Association, and a member of numerous NFPA technical committees. He received the NFPA Committee Service Award in 2015 and the NFSA Russell P. Fleming Technical Service Award in 2017.
Chief Josh Waldo is the Fire Chief of the Bozeman (MT) Fire Department, a position he has held since 2015. Chief Waldo began his career with the Oak Ridge (TN) Fire Department. He is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, holding a master’s degree in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management and a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science & Engineering Technology. Chief Waldo holds the Execu- tive Fire Officer Designation via the National Fire Academy and holds three professional designations from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Chief Waldo was selected as the State of Tennessee Fire Educator of the Year in 2013 and was selected as the Center for Public Safety Excellence Ambassador of the Year for 2017. He is a Peer Reviewer for the Center for Public Safety Excellence and is the Chairman of the International Association of Fire Chief’s Program Planning Committee.
Bill Webb has served as Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) since 1995. In his capacity as Executive Director, Bill works closely with members of Congress and fire service leaders on developing federal legislation and enhancing federal programs designed to improve the readiness of our nation’s fire and emergency services. In addition, he has served on a number of panels and testified before commissions and panels including the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction. Before joining CFSI, Bill worked for the Firefighter Combat Challenge as the project manager for the competition. A former member of the first Bush Administration, he served as a special assistant to cabinet secretaries at the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor. Bill is an honorary member of the Vienna (VA) Volunteer Fire Department, the Delaware Vol- unteer Firemen’s Association, and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 36, and serves on the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Board of Directors.
Chief Tom Weber became the National Director of Community Hazard Mitigation Services for ISO, a Verisk Business, in June 2014. Chief Weber represents and develops support for ISO Community Hazard Mitigation programs on a national level to key external public and private stakeholder groups and organizations. He retired from active emergency service duty in March 2011. His 35-year career began in 1977 with the City of Sunrise, FL. He was appointed Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director for the Town of Manchester, Connecticut in 1997, and Fire Chief for the City of Port Orange, FL in 2003. Chief Weber is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and has received accreditation as a Chief Fire Officer since 2001. He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University and a bachelor’s of Professional Studies from Barry University. He was named “Florida Fire Chief of the Year 2008” by the State of Florida Cabinet and Florida Fire Chiefs Association.
Chief Charles L. Werner (Ret.), has served 44 years in public safety. Charles started his career as a volunteer firefighter/EMT in Har- risonburg, VA. He then served with the Charlottesville, VA Fire Department as a career firefighter for 37 years, serving the last ten years as fire chief. Following retirement, Chief Werner served for 2 years as a senior advisor and deputy state coordinator for the Virginia Dept of Emergency Management. He has served in numerous local, state and national leadership roles and is a subject matter expert on Communications, Interoperability, GIS, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Autonomous/Connected Vehicles, Technology supporting DHS and FirstNet. Chief Werner is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine and a contributor to Urgent Communications, Domestic Preparedness Magazines.
Michael A. Wieder currently serves as Associate Director of Fire Protection Publications (FPP) at Oklahoma State University, and as Executive Director of the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA). He has written or managed more than 50 fire service training manuals and researched reports and published over 140 articles in various fire service trade publications. Mike was the 2003 recipient of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors George D. Post National Fire Instructor of the Year award. He was also awarded the Everett E. Hudiburg Award for Excellence in Fire Service Training by IFSTA in 2008. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers and has served as the Executive Secretary of the National Incident Management System Consortium since 1991. He is the past Chairman of the NFPA 1026 Standard for IMS Positions Professional Qualifications and is a principal member of the NFPA 1091 Standard for Traffic Control Incident Management Professional Qualifications committee. He is a former firefighter with the Stillwater (OK) Fire Department and is a lifetime member of the Pennsburg, PA Fire Company #1.
www.cfsi.org CONGRESSIONAL FIRE SERVICES CAUCUS
ARE YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL FIRE SERVICES CAUCUS? In 1987, the CONGRESSIONAL FIRE SERVICES CAUCUS was established to educate members of Congress about the fire and emergency services. The FIRE CAUCUS was created to be a bipartisan group where Republicans and Democrats could work together to improve the readiness of local first responders and to jointly recognize their valor and dedication.
Today, the FIRE CAUCUS is one of the largest caucuses in Congress. The FIRE CAUCUS is not about ideology, but rather respect and support for our nation’s first responders. The FIRE CAUCUS unites all members of Congress in support of fire service legislation that benefits all of our nation’s fire and emergency services. Acting in a bipartisan manner, the FIRE CAUCUS is dedicated to addressing the needs and challenges of our nation’s fire and emergency service, while serving as a forum for education and discussion on a broad range of issues that impact the readiness and response capabilities of our nation’s first responders to all forms of hazards.
Ask your members of Congress to become active members of the CONGRESSIONAL FIRE SERVICES CAUCUS today!
Senator Tom Carper Senator Susan Collins Senator Lisa Murkowski Senator Jon Tester (DE) - Chair (ME) - Co-chair (AK) - Co-chair (MT) - Co-chair
Congressman Mike Congressman Steny Congressman Peter Congressman Bill Bost (IL-12) - Co-chair Hoyer (MD-5) - King (NY-2) - Co-chair Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-9) - Co-chair Co-chair
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YOUR PROFESSION. OUR PASSION. Firehouse Expo will provide you with the skills needed the next Visit FirehouseExpo.com time you are dispatched to an emergency. From fireground and learn about new education sessions, plus best practices and EMS skills to leadership and career program highlights and development, you don't want to miss Firehouse Expo 2019. ways to participate. #FHEXPO19