Education & Training

• BA SOCIAL WORK Minor in Secondary Education- Concord College, Athens, WV 12/90
• Diploma (Honor Grad) - Mullens High School, Mullens, WV 6/83

 FIRE/EMS CERTIFICATIONS

• University of North Carolina Municipal Government Program Certi?cation
• Currently (4) courses from completing Associates Degree in Fire Protection
• 30 hour OSHA Certi?cation
• Florida Minimum Standards Fire?ghter Certi?cation
• Level III Fire Inspector/Instructor
• Level II Fire?ghter
• Level II Fire Of?cer Instructor
• National Fire Academy Adjunct Instructor
• Level II Fire Instructor
• Live Fire Training Specialist
• EMT-Paramedic - North Carolina
• NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800 certi?ed
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Basic Trauma Life Support - Advanced & Pediatric (BTLS)
• Basic Life Support Instructor (BLS)
• Con?ned Space Rescue, Heavy Rescue, Vehicle Rescue, Structural Collapse and High Angle
• Rescue 
• NAUI Open Water Diver
• NCOSFM Hazardous Materials and Weapons Of Mass Destruction Instructor

 WORK EXPERIENCE

Assistant Chief – Horry County Fire Rescue, Conway, SC August 15, 2011 – Present

Strategic Planning, organizing and direction of department operations for a 46 stations / 520 personnel department (340 Full Time, 180 volunteer) serving a residential population of 270,000, seasonal population of 1million and 1200 square miles, answering approximately 46,000 responses per year.

• Assigning of personnel and equipment
• Manages Operations Division
• Regulates and balances work load; reviews objectives and expectations with delegation to appropriately quali?ed personnel
• Plans for and coordinates activities surrounding any natural disasters and ensures safety policies and procedures are developed.
• Prepares and reviews operational and administrative reports.
• Manages hiring, promotion, discipline and evaluation of departmental employees.
• Responds to all major alarms and ?re related incidents to assume the command of emergency scene functions.
• Directs the investigation of causes and circumstances of ?res to detect their origin and causes long with the efforts of conviction of illegal activities.
• Develops and maintains an intergovernmental relationship with local, state and federal agencies.

Fire Commander - City of High Point Fire Department, High Point, NC August 11, 2008 – August 15, 2011

• Assigned to Administration Division May 4, 2011 - Present
• Assigned to the Health, Safety and Training Division August, 2008 – May 4, 2011
• Assisted in Department's Budget Development, Implementation, and Monitoring of a $18 million budget
• Development of Information Systems to be utilizing with projects and Records Management
• Systems,
• Participated in Research and Development projects focused on technology advancements
• Assisted in development, monitoring and maintaining Cad and Communications projects.
• Assisted in Recruitment and hiring process of new employees
• Development of a Quality Assurance and Tracking program for assigned and completed
• Target Hazards Risk Assessments/preplanning,
• Assist in maintaining and populating the Records Management System 
• Assist in Departmental Planning
• Conducted Post Incident Analysis (PIA) sessions and develops After Action Reports (AAR) relating to signi?cant departmental responses and events
• Commission of Fire Accreditation International program manager,
• Coordinating efforts and developed the ?re department's master ?ve year Strategic Plan, Self
• Assessment, Standard of Cover and City wide all Hazards Risk Assessment.
• Assisted in the development of the Fire Department's comprehensive Safety Program to include policy development and implementation, training program development and delivery, site safety inspections and industrial /professional standards and regulations into operations post OSHA inspection.
• Development of the Department's Strategic Plan, organizing and direction of department's four divisions and operations for a 14 station 225 personnel department answering approximately 13,000 responses per year, serving a population over 100,000 with an all hazards mitigation response concept to include Fire Propagation /Mitigation, Multi-Hazard Mitigation, Emergency Medical BLS First Response, Hazardous Materials Technician Team, Technical Rescue Team, Water Rescue Team and Public Education Team.
• Assists in Maintaining Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating program and data for an ISO Class 2 department.
• Assisted in developing and maintaining the department's training and career development program
• Managed department's “Target Safety” Learning Management System (LMS)
• Assisted in development of a long term comprehensive ?re department training plan to include both personnel development and capital improvements 
• Assisted in establishing departmental policy on ?re and rescue related matters
• Responsible for effective emergency operations preparedness and training
• Prepared budget projections of anticipated expenditures and needs
• Assisted in preparation, development, presentation, implementation, and administration of training budget.
• Assisted in maintaining a multi-million dollar training facility
• Assists in regulating and balancing work loads of training tasks
• Reviewed objectives and expectations with delegation of training to appropriately quali?ed personnel
• Planned for and coordinated activities surrounding training programs, training events and ensures safety policies and procedures are developed.
• Prepared and reviewed operational and administrative reports.
• Analysis of statistical and quantitative operational response data• Participates in training evaluation of departmental employees
• Responded to major alarms and ?re related incidents to assume roles within the NIMS incident command of emergency scene functions.
• Conducted Post Incident Analysis on signi?cant events.
• Developed After Action Reports on signi?cant events
• Maintained training records and ?les
• Development of health, safety and training programs to include on-line programs through the city's learning management platform
• Conducted ?re department safety inspections of facilities.
• Produced weekly Fire Chief's staff meeting and Pod Cast
• Maintained an intergovernmental relationship with local, state and federal agencies in regards to health, safety and training requirements, certi?cations and training advancements.
• Training curriculum development for health, safety, ?re, rescue and emergency medical training programs.
• Managed and maintained department's multi-media and resource library.
• Engaged in emergency scene operations and management as required.
• Performed as an Incident Safety and Accountability Of?cer

Fire Chief- City of Eden Fire Department, Eden, NC July 18, 2005 – August 25, 2008

Strategic Planning, organizing and direction of department operations for a 4 stations / 75 personnel department (17 Full Time, 18 Part Time, 45 volunteer) serving a population of 16,500 and 15.2 square miles answering approximately 600 responses per year. 

• Authored multiple local, state, federal and independent successful grants totaling $340,000 with a total of $16,500 City Budget match expenditure for equipment and training.
• Increased the volunteer staff by 33% in three (3) years through innovative recruitment and retention strategies.
• Increased career staffing by 7% without increasing the salary budget through reduction of overtime expenditures and managed staffing schedules
• Purchased a needed quality 10 year old 102ft aerial platform (16,500 miles) for fire-rescue operations and ISO reduction through inter-city relationships with Greensboro Fire Department for $150,000.
• Implemented updated City wide safety training program and utilized a Learning management System Approach.
• Development of a community connection by working with the community groups, clubs neighborhood organizations, schools, and civic/business groups to increase quality of life through partnerships and educational programs focused upon fire and life safety for all generations
• Maintained ISO Rating of Class 4
• Development of regional collaborative efforts that include inter-state mutual aid and automatic mutual aid agreements with other fire, emergency services and industrial partners
• Development of a comprehensive five (5) year Strategic Operational Plan which positioned the Fire Department for a reduction in ISO rating through the appropriation of quality used apparatus, equipment and strong ISO compliant 3 year action plan.
• Development of a long term comprehensive fire department plan to include increased operational capabilities, technology improvements, personnel career development, equipment modernization, apparatus selection and facility capital improvements.
• Developed and implemented NIMS compliant Multi-hazards City Emergency Operations Plan.
• Managed renovation of the none livable second level of Station 4 to include 3 additional bed rooms, day room, physical fitness area, storage facility, ½ bath and study center for volunteer duty shifts and resident program. Projected completed utilizing funding for materials only and utilizing the prison crew labor force and internal departmental talent for completion of construction which increase operational staffing by utilizing volunteer duty shifts by 1 position.
• Cost saving of construction project of $20,000.
• Establishes departmental policy on fire and rescue related matters
• Managed City confined space rescue team
• Responsible for effective emergency operations and maintaining sufficient levels of preparedness and training
• Prepares budget projections of anticipated expenditures and needs
• Preparation and development of municipal budget, presentation, implementation, and administration
• Grant funding search, development, writing and management
• Assigning of personnel and equipment
• Regulates and balances work load; reviews objectives and expectations with delegation to appropriately qualified personnel
• Plans for and coordinates activities surrounding any natural disasters and ensures safety policies and procedures are developed.
• Prepares and reviews operational and administrative reports.
• Manages hiring, promotion, discipline and evaluation of departmental employees.
• Responds to all major alarms and fire related incidents to assume the command of emergency scene functions.
• Directs the investigation of causes and circumstances of fires to detect their origin and causes long with the efforts of conviction of illegal activities.
• Develops and maintains an intergovernmental relationship with local, state and federal agencies.
• Develops, directs and maintains the department training program and career development program
• Served as Fire Code Official
• Chair of City safety committee
• Developed City All Hazards Mitigation Plan& City Emergency Operations Plan
• Implemented Community Emergency Notification Plan utilizing the Code Red Emergency Notification System
• Utilized prison crew labor to paint and color code all city fire hydrants to NFPA/ISO requirements.
• Over saw the successful conviction on multiple illegal burning, insurance fraud and arson fire cases
• Recouped operations costs on several incidents where convictions were made
• Implemented and successfully complete a three year plan to bring the department’s fire inspection program into North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal Compliance

 Battalion Chief - Chapel Hill Fire Department, Chapel Hill, NC June 1993 – August 5, 2005

• Promoted to Battalion Chief from Captain 9/03 - Captain from Fire Equipment Operator 1/98 –Fire Equipment Operator from Firefighter in 12/96
• Shift Commander of 5 station, 26 personnel shift, 84 personnel department, responding to 4,000 plus calls per year, serving the Town of Chapel Hill with a population of 50,000 residents, University of North Carolina Hospital, multiple research facilities and the University of North Carolina with a student population of 30,000.
• Command Function Operations on Incidents
• Managed daily shift operations for department Shift Payroll
• Commanded large festival and celebratory venues
• Strategic planning for shift personnel development
• Strategic planning for shift operations
• Managed Department’s EMS continuing Education Program
• Managed Department’s Pre-Plan/Risk Assessment program
• Command Officer Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team NC Task Force 8
• Shift Training Officer as Captain
• Departmental Awards: Merit and Life Saving
• Department’s Emergency Medical First Responder Services Training Coordinator
• Level II Fire Inspector
• Shift Fire Inspections Trainer
• North Carolina Task Force 8 USAR Team Member
• Implemented Basic Life Support Patient Care - First Responder Defibrillator Program
• Hazardous Materials Operations - Plus
• Public Education and Fire Prevention
• Special Task Forces (Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality Study and EMS
• First Responder Defibrillator Program {pilot program, State of North Carolina})
• Developed Continuing Education Training Curriculum for Department's Emergency Medical First Responder program
• Developed Hearts and Sirens Program (CISM Education for Significant Others)
• National, State and Local speaking engagements
• Mid Carolina Regional Advisor Board for Trauma Services - Chair of Disaster Response Preparedness subcommittee
• Critical Incident Stress management State Advisory Board
• Triangle “J” Critical Incident Stress Management Team
• Fire Driver / Paramedic - Alachua County Fire / Rescue, Gainesville, FL 8/91 - 6/93
• Acting Engine Company Officer
• Haz Mat Ops, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Public Education / Prevention
• Advanced Life Support Patient Care and Critical Care Transports
• EMT / EMT - Paramedic Trainer / Preceptor (ACFR and Santé Fe Comm. College)

 Correctional Medical Technician - NFRMC, Lake Butler, FL 6/91 - 9/91

• Medical Care of Inmates (Maximum Security Prison)
• Battalion Chief - McDowell County Emergency Services, Welch, WV 1/90 - 6/91
• Established and Managed Advanced Life Support Program - Paramedic Level for a County
• Emergency Medical Service with a population of 45,000 which included several smaller Towns and the County seat.
• Strategic Planning for an expanding EMS service from BLS to ALS
• Plans for and coordinates activities surrounding any natural disasters and ensures safety policies and procedures are developed.
• Prepares and reviews operational and administrative reports.
• Participates in hiring, promotion, discipline and evaluation of departmental employees.
• Responds to all major alarms and fire related incidents to assume the command of emergency scene functions.
• Develops and maintains an intergovernmental relationship with local, state and federal agencies.
• Develops, directs and maintains the department training program and career development program
• Command Function Operations on Incidents
• Established Standard Operating Procedures for Advanced Life Support Program
• Developed Quality Assurance Program
• Department Continuing Education Instructor
• Assisted in Developing Enhanced 911 Communications Center
• Assisted in Developing Operational Procedures for 911 Center Incident Commander
• Budget Preparation, Recruitment, Staffing, and Hiring of ALS Personnel
• Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
• Budget Preparation and Purchasing for EMS Equipment and Supplies

Lieutenant (Training Officer) - Bluefield Rescue Squad, Bluefield, WV 1/87 – 1/90 Department Training Officer

• Maintained Department’s and Personnel Training Records
• Managed Department’s Emergency Medical and Rescue Services Training and Education Program
• Department’s Continuing Education Instructor
• Liaison to External Education Programs
• Developed Standard Operating Procedures and Standards for Training Program
• Shift Commander / Incident Commander
• Rescue Operations: Heavy Rescue, Vehicle, Water Recovery, High Angle, Haz Mat
• Advanced Life Support Patient Care
• Inter-Facility Critical Care Adult Transports
• Neonatal and Pediatric Transport Team

 Captain - Mullens Emergency Ambulance Service, Mullens, WV 6/85 - 1/87

• Shift Commander / Incident Commander
• In Charge of Two (2) Stations, Four(4) companies and Daily Operations
• Budget Preparation and Purchasing of EMS Supplies and Equipment
• Advanced Life Support Patient Care & Critical Care Transports

Lieutenant - Mullens Emergency Ambulance Service, Mullens, WV 2/85 - 6/85

• Supervisor in Charge of Two Company Station
• Advanced Life Support Patient Care & Critical Care Transports

EMT / EMT-P - Mullens Emergency Ambulance Service, Mullens, WV1/83 - 2/85

Advanced Life Support Care & Critical Care Transports

COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES

• Ruffin Volunteer Fire Department, Assistant Fire Chief of Administration – Ruffin, NC 9/08 -present
• International Society of Fire Service Instructors- 1st Vice President
• Southeast Association of Fire Chiefs President (IAFC Division)
• North Carolina Piedmont Fireman's Association 2nd Vice President10/05- present
• North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation Board of Directors 1/08 – 12/10
• Rockingham County Fire Chief's Council- 1st Vice President (past)
• North Carolina Critical Incident Stress Debriefing State Advisory Board 3/95 – 8/05
• Triangle J Council of Governments CISD Team 6/94 – 8/05
• Orange County Hazardous Materials Response Team 6/94 - 5/96
• Timberlake Volunteer Fire / Rescue, Timberlake, NC 1/95 – 8/05
• Chapel Hill Fire Fighters Association (IAFF Local 2850) 3/94 – 8/05
• Mercer County Office of Emergency Management Services - Princeton, WV 6/89 - 5/91
• County Training Officer
• Assistant Radiological Officer
• Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) - Princeton, WV 6/89 - 5/91
• Assisted in Developing County Disaster Plan
• Princeton Rescue Squad - Princeton, WV 1/85 - present
• Special Life Membership Status
• Athens Volunteer Fire Department - Athens, WV 8/84 - 5/90
• Mullens Volunteer Fire Department - Mullens, WV 1/81 - 5/85
• Mid Carolina Regional Advisory Council for Trauma 1/01- 1/05
• *Chair of Disaster preparedness Sub-Committee

 ACADEMIC & OTHER ACTIVITIES

• Authored Rapid intervention Team Training Curriculum for the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI)
• Content Editor for Rapid Intervention Company Operations, Thompson-Delmar
• Fire and Emergency Training Network / American Heat (Primedia) - Video Series on Training
• Rapid Intervention Teams, Vehicle Fires, Driving Safety, Fire-ground Safety and Survival, Hose Line Tactics, Single family Structure Fires Operations and Multi-family Structure Fire operations
• Host of FIREHOUSE.com Training and Tactics Talk monthly Podcast
• Contributing Editor Pennsylvania Fireman Magazine, Fire Rescue 1 Kitchen Table Talk
• Co-owner / Contributing Editor www.thecompanyofficer.com
• 1999 George D. Post, International Fire Instructor of the Year (ISFSI)
• FIREHOUSE.com Training and Tactics Talk Pod Cast host 2/08 – present
• FIREHOUSE.com “House of Training” Blog
• Contributing editor to the Fire Rescue 1 Kitchen table Talk Blog
• Co Host of “thecompanyofficer.com” training Blog
• Contributing Editor to FIREHOUSE.com
• Contributing Author 8th Edition Emergency Care Instructor Resource Manual
• Contributing Author to the 10th edition of BRADY's Emergency Care Fire Service edition
• Developed Fire Officer Program Curriculum to NFPA 1021 standards for Great Oaks Institute of
• Technology, Cincinnati, Ohio (Accredited by Professional Qualifications Board)
• Adjunct Instruction at Great Oaks Institute of Technology
• Multiple articles and publications in National Professional Journals
• Development of Test Bank for Thompson-Delmar Incident Safety Officer book.
• IFSTA / Brady EMT-B Text Book Review Committee
• Reviewed BRADY ACLS Text
• Contributing Author for Instructor Curriculum for Rapid Intervention Company Book published by Delmar
• Video Series (4 part)on Rapid Intervention Teams, Vehicle Fires (2 part), Fire Ground Safety and Survival, Hose Line Tactics and Emergency Vehicle Operations Safety with the Fire and Emergency Training Network (FETN)
• Author of the Hearts and Sirens Family Support Journal, Published ISFSI, 1999
• Author of the Company Officer Test Prep Guide, Published by Delmar, First Edition, 2005
• Technical Editor for the Rapid Intervention Company Text Authored by Jeff Pindelski, Published by Thomson-Delmar Learning, 2006
• Actual recreation of rescue performed, while Battalion Chief with McDowell County
• Emergency Services, for television show RESCUE 911

 Professional Affiliations

• International Society of Fire Service Instructors (1st Vice President)
• Department of Homeland Security Grant Development Criteria Committee
• Department of Homeland Security Peer Reviewer for Fire Act Grants
• North Carolina Fire Chiefs’ Association
• North Carolina Society of Fire and Rescue Instructors
• International Association of Fire Chief’s Member
• Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs (President).
• Piedmont Division of the North Carolina Fireman's Association (2nd Vice President).
• North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation
• North Carolina Fireman's Association

 National Speaking Engagements:

• Firehouse Expo, FDIC, North Carolina Fire Chiefs, Georgia Fire Chiefs, South Carolina Fire
• Chiefs, New York Fire Chiefs, West Virginia Fire Chiefs, Old Forge NY Drill School, Delaware
• State Fire Academy, Connecticut Fire Academy, Bucks County PA Fire Academy, WV Fire
• Academy, North Carolina Firefighters, Georgia Firefighters, Fire Rescue International, Fire
• Rescue, RESA I Emergency Services Conference (ESCAPE) - Pipestem, WV, Addison
• County - Vermont, Franklin-Lamoille Fire School - Vermont, University of Missouri, Kansas
• University, West Virginia University Fire service Extension, Ohio Fire Chiefs, Frankfort Fire
• Department, Kentucky Chiefs, International Search and Rescue and Disaster World
• Conference, Florida Fire Academy, Fire Department Safety Officers Conference, ISFSI
• Conferences, Emergency Service Conference West Virginia, Fire Rescue Conference, South
• Carolina Fire Academy, Nebraska Fire Instructors, South Carolina Fireman's Association
• Conference, Fire Rescue International, National Fire Rescue Virtual Conference, FIREHOUSE
• Expo, Southeastern Association of Fire Chief's Conference, Roanoke County Virginia, Great
• Oaks Institute Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Missouri, University of North Carolina at
• Charlotte, North Carolina Community College Systems, Ohio Fire Academy, Conway Arkansas
• Fire Department, Mississippi Fire Chiefs Conference

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2nd Vice President:  Devon Wells

 

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Eastern Regional Director:  Robert Colameta