Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer

Job Function

Training Officer, Safety Officer, Captain, EMT - Basic, Hazardous Materials Team Member, Administrative Staff / Team Member

Years in Fire/EMS:

29

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Fayetteville, AR

Years With Department/Agency

22

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Pleasant Hills, IA

My Training:

FFIII, EMT-B, Officer II, Instructor I, Inspector I, Haz-Mat Tech, Haz-Mat Inst., Rescue Tech, National Certified Safety Officer, Arkansas State Adjunct Instructor, and a whole lot more..........

About Me:

Grew up in a small town in western Iowa. Dad was a volunteer for 30+ years until his death in 1979. Mom was a charter member of the Carrol County Volunteer ambulance service and had an Iowa EMT # <100. In 1979 Living in a suburb of Des Moines, IA I became a Volunteer. I recieved my EMT and FFI while I was there along with my first touch of teaching as I was quickly promoted to training officer. In 1986 the Banking Industry in Iowa (my full time job at that time) fell apart, I decided to do the fire fighting thing full time. I tested and was the top score on the Fayetteville Civil Service Test and was hired. I was asked for several years to go back to Iowa State Fire Extension and Teach a class on Large area Search and Rescue. I was promoted in 3 1/2 years to Captain and worked as a company officer on an engine for almost 15 years. In 1989 an organization which was made up of the regional Fire Chiefs, put together a regional Haz-Mat team of which I am a Charter member and later became the training officer for them. An opportunity to move into our training division presented itself and I have been there ever since. In 2003 the same Chief's orginization that gave our area the regional Haz-Mat Team decided we needed to develop a local area standards school. I helped create and now help run and teach at a great regional "Rookie School" with a great bunch of officers in the area. I also teach for Arkansas State Fire Academy and Arkansas Department of Emergency Services.

Relationship Status:

Married

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

grew up in a family with Dad being a VFF and Mom EMT

Why I Love Fire/EMS

It is the same as when I started, helping people, but today it is helping our own through training.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

Highrise fire fighting, Training on low or no budget, Training todays generation.