Type of Organization

Other Fire Department

Job Function

Training Officer

Years in Fire/EMS:

30

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Weirton VFD Co. No. 1

Years With Department/Agency

30

Dept. Web Site:

http://wvfdco1.org/

Web Site:

http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/detail.asp?id=66

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Greenville Fire Department, Greenville, PA
Hempfield Township. VFD, Greenville, PA

My Training:

-- Pro-Board Certified Fire Officer
Arson Detection for First Responders
Auto Extrication
Class A, B, C, and D live fire training
Climbing and aerial safety (tie off and rigging)
Community Risks, Prevention, and Interventions
Community Safety Educator
Confined Space Entrant, Attendant, Supervisor
Core Disaster Life Support
Emergency Operations Center Preparation, Response, Recovery
Emergency Response to Terrorism I & II
Emergency Services Executive Skills Series I & II
Emergency Service Officers: Legal Considerations
Emergency Vehicle Operations
Energized equipment safety
Fire and Life Safety Instructor III
Fire-Rescue I & II
Firefighter I & II
Firefighter Safety and Survival
Fire Service Course Delivery
Fire Service Course Design
First Aid, adult, child, infant CPR/AED
First Responder
Flight/ground Safety Team LifeFlight, STAT, & HealthNet
Hazardous Materials Incident Analysis, Awareness, Responder, & Operations
Hazardous Materials – Right to Know/Awareness
Hazardous Materials – Environmental and Workplace
Health and Safety Officer (HSO)
High volume, high pressure air systems
Incident Command System (ICS)
Incident Safety Officer (ISO)
Joint Public Information Center Operations
Leadership I, II, & III
National Incident Management System
National Response Plan (Presidentially declared disasters & emergencies)
Nationally Certified EMT/A (former)
Navigable Waterway (Locks and Dams Procedures)
OSHA-compliant Industrial safety awareness (8 – 40 hours/year)
Professional Development Series
Public Information Officer
Radiological safety (active/passive source) monitoring
State EMT (former)
Radiological Safety (active/passive source) precautions
Radiological Safety (active/passive source) placarding
Radiological Safety Reporting
Radiological Safety Decontamination
Rescue I, II, & III
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus Maintenance/Repair
Squad training officer
Strategic Considerations for Chief Officers
Tactical Operations I, II, & III
Vehicle Rescue I, II, & III
Pump Operations (Hale & Waterous)
Wilderness Search and Rescue

About Me:

I understand I am one of fewer than 100 firefighters nationwide who hold an earned terminal degree. Mine is a doctorate in Communications and Information Systems, my doctoral research and dissertation were in the realm of disaster recovery planning.

In addition to national training, my emergency services training and work four states.

In September, 2005, I was captain of a firefighting and heavy rescue task force dispatched to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to serve the areas along the Pearl River, directly where Hurricane Katrina came ashore. Our units were based from Stennis International Airport and the CIty of Waveland where we remained until the area was ordered evacuated for Hurricane Rita's anticipated landfall.

I am also one of few to have planned, trained and served in nuclear power station response and one of very few to participate in the only full, multi-state nuclear power station exercise to receive a perfect score from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Day Job:

Community and enterprise disaster recovery planning consultant, university faculty undergraduate through doctoral.

Relationship Status:

Married

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

We had a pretty serious fire in our home when I was 12 -- on December 23rd. Thankfully everyone escaped safely, but it made a bit of an impression on me.

Why I Love Fire/EMS

The community service aspect and the fact "professional" (usually) references education, training, and experience rather than employment status.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

The problem does not appear in day to day response, but it is very evident (and very public) when true, regional disasters occur. Integrated planning at the local level (beyond daily inter-agency incidents) remains problematic in many areas of the country.

In my opinion, FEMA cannot and should not be expected "fix" this issue. It can only be addressed bottom up -- by encouraging EVERY business and institution to have a well-considered, well-documented, well-tested disaster plan that integrates with all applicable local, county/parish, state and Federal plans.