Donald Colarusso began his fire service career on April 7, 1987, and dedicated nearly four decades to the profession.  Throughout his career, he served in a variety of leadership roles, including six years as Fire Chief, before transitioning to Emergency Management as Deputy Coordinator overseeing Special Operations.  He currently serves as Chief / Team Leader of the Neptune Township (NJ) Technical Rescue Team and with the Regional Water Rescue Team.

Don is a New Jersey State Level II Fire Instructor and former staff instructor at the Ocean County Fire Academy.  In recognition of his commitment to firefighter education, he was named Northern Class Instructor of the Year in 2012.

Don is a manufacturer-authorized instructor for all major NFPA-certified firefighter escape systems and is a Petzl Technical Partner.  Since 2006, he has assisted manufacturers with testing and evaluation of escape system and harness products during development and provides guidance to fire departments on escape system selection, integration, training, and program implementation.

Throughout his career, Don has worked with some of the nation's largest and most respected fire departments, including Philadelphia, Baltimore City, Newark, Rochester, and Boston, delivering specialized training and technical expertise in firefighter survival, rescue operations, and emergency response.

Paul has been a tremendous inspiration, mentor and friend to All Hands Fire, for which we are eternally grateful.

Paul Hashagen served over 40 years in the fire service. He joined the FDNY and was assigned to Engine 74, then to Ladder 25. He became a member of Rescue Company 1 in 1983 where he spent the next 20 years. Paul is a member of Freeport Fire Department - Truck 1 in Nassau County, Long Island where he also served as Chief of Department. Paul is an accomplished author - having written several books and numerous stories on the history of the fire service including Fire Department City of New York: The Bravest; An Illustrated History 1865-2002; and One Hundred Years of Valor: Rescue Company 1 New York City Fire Department Rescue 1915-2015. He is also well known for his cartoons. Paul has instructed firefighter across the United States and is an incredible ambassador of the fire service.

Joel has been a tremendous inspiration, mentor and friend to All Hands Fire, for which we are eternally grateful.

Joel Kanasky served many years in Rescue Company 1 in Manhattan, before retiring from the FDNY. He also served as a Logistics Section Chief for FEMA Urban Search & Rescue. Prior to joining the FDNY, Joel was a firefighter with the Alexandria VA Fire Department and also served as a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps. Joel has instructions nationally on Technical Rescue operations and a large variety of other fire and rescue topics.

Joe Adams has served in the fire service for over 24 years, including the last 19 years with the Philadelphia Fire Department, where he is currently assigned to Rescue 1. He is a Pennsylvania State Fire Service Instructor specializing in technical rescue and has extensive operational and instructional experience across multiple rescue disciplines.

Joe holds Pro Board certifications in Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Trench Rescue, Structural Collapse Rescue, and Vehicle & Machinery Rescue. He also maintains certifications through SPRAT and ITRA and serves as a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Water Rescue Instructor. His instruction is built on real-world experience and a commitment to developing highly skilled rescuers through practical, hands-on training.

Mark joined the fire service in 2012 and is currently serves as a Lieutenant with the Cranford Fire Department. He is a certified swiftwater rescue, ice rescue and confined space rescue technician. Mark also holds certifications as a UCC building and fire sub-code inspector and is a NJ State Level 2 Instructor. Mark has a BE in Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and is a NJ licensed Professional Engineer.

Jim served with the Jersey City Fire Department, retiring after 31 years. He is presently an active member of NJ Task Force 1 – Urban Search and Rescue Team, where he serves as a Task Force Leader and is responsible for the Search Component. For more than three decades, Jim has developed extensive knowledge and experience in leadership, firefighting and rescue operations. He also has vast experience as a technician and as an instructor in water rescue and rescue boat operations. He is a certified instructor with Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Jim is also a Past President of the State Urban Search & Rescue Alliance (SUSAR) and a Disaster Search Canine Evaluator.

Brad is a proud 7 year veteran of the New Jersey Army National Guard. He has been in the fire service since 2014, having started as a volunteer with the Garwood Fire Department. In 2017 he was hired full time with the Cranford Fire Department. Brad is an NJ Division of Fire Safety Level 1 Instructor and teaches at the Union County Fire Academy. He specializes in water rescue, boat operations, firefighter escape systems and pump ops instruction.

Pat joined the fire service in 1996 as a member of Hillsborough Fire Co. #2 in Somerset County NJ where he has held every leadership position and recently held the position of Fire Chief. Pat is a NJ State Level 2 Fire Instructor and a Fire Instructor at the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy in Somerset County NJ where he teaches the Truck Company Operations, Bailout, CEVO, Pump Operations, Air Management, as well as many of the Firefighter 1 & 2 courses. Pat has developed several courses such as Electrical Safety for Firefighters, Tactical Truck Operations, Truck Work, Traffic Incident Management, Utility Incident Management, Air Management, The “NEW” Fire Officer and Solar System Safety. Pat has worked in the utility/power industry for the past 41 years and holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and an MS in Energy Management.

Ryan joined the emergency services in 2002 and has been in the fire service since 2006 starting in Hillsborough, NJ. Ryan has certifications as a level 2 fire instructor, fire official, fire investigator, EMT and is a former Paramedic. He graduated with his AAS in Fire Science from Columbia Southern University. Ryan is currently a career Fire Captain for the Hillsborough Township Fire District and also instructs at Hunterdon County Emergency Services Training Center.

Rob has been a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Water Rescue Instructor since 2017 and is currently a member of the PA Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, Montgomery County Urban Search and Rescue, and Gladwyne Fire Company’s Swiftwater Rescue Team. Rob also serves on the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy Water Rescue Certification committee and is an Instructor-Trainer and Curriculum Committee member for the Fish and Boat Commission. He has ProBoard certification as a Swift and Surface Water Rescue Technician and Fire Instructor II.

Tony is a Battalion Chief with the Washington DC Fire Department. He was appointed to DCFD in March 1992. He has served in some of the District of Columbia’s busiest Engine and Truck Company’s, as well as serving in Rescue Company 2. Tony also served as a fire instructor at the DC Fire Academy where he has taught rookie firefighters, Rope Rescue, Firefighter Survival, “Back to Basics”, Personal Escape Systems and other classes. Tony is a certified Level-3 instructor, an authorized Petzl EXO Escape Systems instructor and a FDTN Rapid Intervention Team instructor (T-t-T).

Tom recently retired from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), where he was assigned to Rescue Company 1 in Manhattan.  During his career, he responded to a wide range of emergencies, including structural fires, high-rise incidents, below-grade and subway emergencies, water-related incidents, and complex technical rescue operations.  His extensive FDNY experience provides him with real-world knowledge and practical insight that he brings to firefighters and emergency responders across the country.

Tom is currently an instructor at the Orange County, New York Fire Academy.  He also provides technical rescue training throughout the country and has instructed at nationally recognized fire service events, including the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) and Firehouse Expo.

Chad has been a member of the Wichita KS Fire Department for 13 years, where he currently serves as Lieutenant on Engine Company 2. He is a Sterling F4 Firefighter Escape Systems instructor. He also teaches Forcible Entry, Engine Company Operations and Safety & Survival. Chad assists the departments recruit academies with instruction on a variety of topics, including the Gemtor Harness and personal bailout systems.

Chief Eysser has been in fire service since 1991. He has been a member of the FDNY since 1995 and is currently the Battalion Commander assigned to Battalion 50. His previous assignments include Captain of Ladder Co. 120 (Watkins Street), Lieutenant in Ladder Co. 124 (Tonka Truck), and Firefighter in Ladder Co. 111 (The Nuthouse). He serves as an adjunct instructor for the FDNY fire academy. He also serves as an Instructor at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy on Long Island NY. He is a member of the Syosset Fire Department Ladder Co. 2 in Nassau County, NY and is a member of NFPA Committee 1971 & 1851.

Christopher "Chris" Feder began his career in 1995 as a firefighter with the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company, where he rose to the rank of Assistant Chief. Over the next 30 years, Chris went on to serve in various capacities within Emergency Services Special Operations, building a multi-disciplinary career across fire rescue, hazardous materials response, urban search and rescue, federal corrections, military, and law enforcement roles. Notably, Chris served as a Battalion Chief with the Montgomery County (PA) Hazardous Materials Response Team from 2009 to 2019, and as a rescue specialist and founding program manager for the Montgomery County (PA) Urban Search & Rescue Team from 2013 to 2025.

Chris was previously Director of Rescue and Rope Access Services for Med-Tex Services, Inc. where he oversaw technical rescue and rope access teams, rescue safety and instructor development. In 2025 Chris joined the team at All Hands Fire Training as a Lead Instructor for Technical Rescue Programs. Chris is also an accomplished author, researcher, and speaker, having published articles in various prominent publications, such as Fire Engineering, Police, S.W.A.T  and Technical Rescue magazines, and presented at national and international conferences, including ITRS, FDIC and the Icelandic Association of Search & Rescue (ICESAR). As a Pennsylvania State Fire & Emergency Services Instructor, he specializes in technical rope rescue and hazardous materials operations and serves on technical rescue training and certification committees for the Office of the Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner. A combat veteran, Chris has served in two branches of the U.S. military—the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and currently the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. His military career includes assignments as a Combat Engineer, Emergency Management, and CBRN response, culminating in his current role as a unit NCOIC within safety oversight, and is highlighted by a 2008 deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Frank served 32 years with the FDNY, having served in Rescue Company 1 in Manhattan. He was also a Logistics Manager with New York Task Force 1 USAR Team. Frank has an incredibly diverse experience in all levels of technical rescue work and firefighting, and has responded to countless emergencies over his long career. Frank is also a long time member of the Freeport Fire Department on Long Island. He has taught fire and technical rescue across the country.

Ed started his fire career as a volunteer in 2001 at the age of 16. In 2013, he was hired as a career firefighter for the City of Newark, where he was assigned to Ladder Company 7 and then Rescue Company 1. In 2021, Ed was promoted to Captain and is assigned to Engine Company 15. He has been a member of New Jersey Task Force 1 since 2020 and is assigned as a rescue specialist and Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist. Ed is also a NJ Division of Fire Safety Level 2 Instructor.

Joe is a Veteran of the US Coast Guard and began his Fire service in 2007 as a volunteer with the Iselin District 9 Fire Company, rising to the rank of Chief of Department, a position he served for 3 years.  Joe’s career began with the Fort Monmouth Fire Department, then Howell Fire District 3 where he was promoted to Lieutenant, and currently serves as Station Captain with the Upper Freehold Township Fire Department. 

Joe is a NJDFS Level 2 Instructor and currently holds technician level certifications in Swift Water, Ice Rescue, Motor Vehicle Extrication, and Hazardous Materials.

Alex Gillespie began his fire service career in 2011 as a volunteer firefighter with the Finderne Fire Department in Bridgewater, New Jersey, progressing through the ranks to Captain. He is a New Jersey State Level I Fire Instructor and was hired by the Hillsborough Fire District in 2020, where he served as a career firefighter.

In 2024, Alex joined the City of Newark Fire Department and is currently assigned to Ladder 5 and Rescue 2. He holds Technician-level certifications in Structural Collapse, Rope Rescue, Swiftwater Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, and Trench Rescue, and serves as a member of Newark Fire Department's Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) team.

Clint Gifford is a Captain for the Wichita (KS) Fire Department and currently serves as a lead instructor, teaching hands-on skills to members of all ranks. Throughout his career, he has been heavily involved with the WFD Recruit Academy, Firefighter Escape Systems, and operational development. Gifford is a member of the Wichita Metro Area FOOLS of Oz and has instructed firefighters across the Midwest through HOT schools, regional training events, and fire service organizations, while remaining committed to improving fireground performance and preparing firefighters for the realities of the job.

Gordo is a Fire Captain with the Washington DC Fire Department, assigned to Truck Company 11. He was appointed to DC Fire in 1996, serving in Engine 10 and then Rescue Squad 1. He also is a frequent instructor at the DC Fire & EMS Academy. Gordo has previously worked for Manassas Fire Department and Fort Belvoir Fire Department, as well as volunteering for O.W.L. Fire Department in Woodbridge, VA. He holds several certifications including Fire Instructor Level III and numerous technical rescue certifications.

TJ began his fire service career in 2007 as a volunteer in Hamilton Township, NJ.  From 2009 to 2013 he worked as a firefighter in Washington DC and was assigned to Engine Company 33 in Southeast DC.  In 2013 he was hired by the Montclair, NJ Fire Department.  In 2026, TJ was promoted to Deputy Chief.  TJ is a NJ Division of Fire Safety Level 2 Instructor and has been teaching since 2019.  He is an instructor at the Mercer County NJ Fire Academy.

Josh Jamison has served in the fire service since 2007 and currently works with West Windsor Fire & Emergency Services, where he has spent the past decade responding to a wide range of emergency incidents. In addition to his operational role, Josh is an instructor with the Burlington County Emergency Services Training Center, where he teaches on various fire and rescue disciplines. Josh also serves as a Fire Investigator in the private sector and holds dual certifications as a Technical Search Specialist and Hazardous Materials Specialist with New Jersey Task Force 1. His areas of expertise include engine company operations, hazardous materials response and mitigation, fire prevention, and search and rescue. Josh brings a comprehensive and field-tested perspective to fire service training, blending instructional experience with real-world response knowledge.

Chad has been with the City of Alexandria Fire Department in Virginia since 1998, and served as a Battalion Chief assigned to Special Operations. He started his firefighting career in 1990 mostly assigned to Engine Co's. Prior to his promotion to Battalion Chief, Chad served as a Captain on the Rescue Squad - part of the Technical Rescue Team. Chad has over 27 years as a Volunteer serving at every rank to include Fire Chief in Prince George's County Maryland. Chad is an instructor in many disciplines, including instructing Fire Recruit Academies, Fire Ground Survival training, SCBA Emergencies, Air Consumption and Air Management, Personal Escape Systems, FFI & II, Driver Pump Operator, Swiftwater Rescue, Ice Rescue and others. Chad is a certified Fire Officer IV and Instructor III. He also has extensive training in Technical Rescue disciplines to include FEMA Structural Collapse Specialist and Rescue Squad Officer.

Aaron is a twenty year student of the emergency services - dating back to 2006.  In that time he has been privileged to both volunteer and work in a myriad of capacities from serving as Chief of Tinton Falls Fire Company No. 1 in 2016 and 2017 to working as an EMT in both a municipal-based EMS system and for the federal government.  Aaron has been a DFS certified Instructor since 2011 and served for a number of years on the instructional staff at the Middletown Township Fire Department Training Academy.  Aaron maintains technician level certifications in nearly every discipline, with his greatest focus on technical rope rescue having been trained by some of the best in the industry to include Ronin Rescue, the Crackerjack Group and the like.

Vinny joined the fire service in 1990. He serves as a chief officer in Howell Township (NJ), and is also a past-chief in Freehold (NJ). Since 2011, Vinny has been a member of NJ Task Force 1 USAR and is assigned as a Search Technician and Swift Water Rescue component. He is also an instructor for the USAR team. Vinny is a NJ State Certified Instructor in addition to holding numerous USAR technician level certifications.

Chief Leimeister has been in the fire service since 1984. Appointed to FDNY in 1998 he is currently a battalion chief assigned to the 46 Battalion in Queens. He previously served as the Captain of Ladder Co.117 in Astoria, Lt in Ladder Co. 30 in Harlem, and Firefighter in Ladder Co.154 in Jackson Heights.

He served as the Executive Officer to the Chief of the FDNY Fire Academy for 18 months overseeing day to day operations at the “Rock” and implemented many new training initiatives and programs during his tenure. John is nationally certified Fire Officer 1&2, Fire Instructor 1&2, an adjunct NYS instructor, Deputy chief instructor at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy for over 20 yrs and a member of Massapequa fire departments Ladder Co. 2 and technical rescue team. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Service Administration and an Associate degree in Emergency Management.

Kelly brings over two decades of fire service experience, having served in both career and volunteer departments from Junior Firefighter to Deputy Chief of Operations. He currently serves with the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire, continuing to refine his craft. In addition to his fire service career, Kelly dedicated more than 24 years to the Pennsylvania and Maryland Army National Guard, retiring as a Sergeant First Class with the Special Operations Detachment. A combat veteran of Iraq (2005–2006), he was wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart. Kelly resides in Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania, with his wife and three children.

Nick joined the fire service in 2014 as a volunteer firefighter in West Windsor and then Plainsboro NJ, before working as an EMT in Hudson County and a firefighter for the NJSEA at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. In 2022, he was hired by the Robbinsville Township Fire Department where he is currently assigned to Squad 40 on D Platoon. Nick holds certifications as NJDFS Level 1 instructor, IML Level 2, Swiftwater Technician, Motor Vehicle Extrication Technician, and Rope Rescue and Confined Space Operations amongst others. His passion lies in the Engine Company above all else, from the chauffeur's seat to the nozzle. Nick holds a bachelor's degree in International Business from Monmouth University.

John Mahon began his firefighting career in 2000 as a volunteer in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he continues to serve today. John became a Pennsylvania State Instructor and Fish and Boat Commission certified water rescue instructor in 2014, focusing on technical rescue. He has been teaching water and rope rescue for All Hands Fire Equipment and Training since 2016. John holds NFPA 1006 Technician certifications across rope, confined space, swift water, surface water, and vehicle rescue, along with instructor ratings at all three rope levels through the International Technical Rescue Association (ITRA) and a SPRAT Level 1 rope access certification. He also holds certifications as a Hazardous Materials Technician and EMT. John serves on the Montgomery County Urban Search & Rescue Team, where he has responded to numerous severe weather events including Hurricanes Isaias and Ida, and sits on the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy Water Rescue Certification Committee.

Paul was appointed to the FDNY in 1996 and was assigned to Engine Company 280 in Brooklyn. Through the years, Paul was assigned to Squad 252, Rescue Company 4 and served as Lieutenant in Squad Company 1 until his retirement in 2022. He was an instructor at the FDNY Technical Rescue School and presently serves as a Deputy Chief Instructor at the Suffolk County Fire Academy on Long Island. Paul holds a Bachelor of Science degree. He started in the fire service as a volunteer with the Holbrook Volunteer Fire Department in 1989.

Pat currently serves as a Captain with the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey.  He also serves as a Rescue Specialist/Paramedic with University Hospital EMS Rescue 1, providing technical rescue services for the City of Newark in coordination with the Newark Fire Department and Newark Police Department.  Pat began his fire service career as a volunteer firefighter with Iselin Fire District 9 in New Jersey.

Pat holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science from New Jersey City University (NJCU) and is a New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Level 1 Fire Instructor and Fire Investigator.  He is also a certified paramedic.  His combination of fire service, emergency medical, and technical rescue experience provides a strong operational background that he brings to both emergency response and fire service training.

Pat has been a firefighter since 1997, starting as a volunteer with the Ocean Grove NJ Fire Department. Today he is a career firefighter with the City of Isle of Palms Fire Department in South Carolina, assigned to the Training Division. Pat’s previous career firefighting experience includes serving two years with the National Park Service - Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, 12 years as a career firefighter in several departments in Delaware and South Carolina, including as a firefighter in Mount Pleasant (SC). He is a lead instructor for Firefighter Survival, Rapid Intervention, Firefighter Escape Systems and other firefighting operations. Pat has also been a longtime lifeguard for the beach patrol in Ocean Grove, NJ. During the summers, he serves as an Assistant Chief of Beach Operations and trains new lifeguards. He also teaches all of our Swiftwater Rescue programs.

"Murph" was appointed to the Jersey City Fire Department in 1999. He worked in Squad Company 4 and in 2004 assigned to Rescue 1. Over the years he received extensive technical rescue training through USAI in structural collapse, trench, confined space and high angle rope rescue. In 2016, Murph was promoted to the rank of Captain and assigned to Tower Ladder 4. He now serves as a Captain at Jersey City's Rescue Company 1. Murph is a Hazmat Technician, a NJ DFS Level 2 fire instructor and is an instructor at the Somerset County Fire Academy.

John has been in the fire service since 1976, presently serving as a Chief Officer with Toms River Fire District 1 and the Leader of the Regional Urban Strike Team for Ocean County. He is the Deputy Director of the Toms River Fire Academy where he has developed and teaches numerous courses including Pump Operations, Fire Officer 1 and 2, Incident Management and many others. John has previously worked as a career DOD firefighter at Naval Weapons Station Earle and as a Crash Rescue Firefighter for the 177th Fighter Wing at Atlantic City Airport. John holds a BS degree from Columbia Southern University, a Associates Degree in Fire Science from Ocean County College and an HHS Fire and Fire Subcode license. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

Jason Palmer is a 24-year member of the Robbinsville Township Fire Department, where he serves as a Platoon Captain and has been the department’s Training Officer since 2007.  From 2000 to 2017, Jason also served with New Jersey Task Force 1 (NJ-TF1) Urban Search and Rescue as a Logistics Manager and Swiftwater Rescue Instructor.  He became a Swiftwater Rescue Technician in 2001 and later earned credentials as a Swiftwater Rescue Instructor and Emergency Boat Operator Instructor through the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Jason has extensive real-world experience operating at major flood and swiftwater rescue incidents, including Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey, and Hurricane Matthew in North and South Carolina.  In addition to his technical and water rescue experience, Jason is a Petzl EXO escape systems instructor, a NJ Division of Fire Safety Level II Fire Instructor, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Bob has over 45 years of experience in the Aquatic Rescue Environment. He presently serves as the training officer for Barnegat Light Fire Company and High Point Fire Company in Ocean County, NJ. He has been a USLA Lifeguard for over 45 years and a NJ EMT for over 20 years. Additionally, Bob is an Hawaiian Lifeguard Association Rescue Watercraft Risk Management Technician Instructor, a Lifesaving Resources ICE / Water Rescue Instructor, and a K38 Personal Watercraft Instructor. Bob has delivered Rescue Watercraft Training internationally. Bob has been awarded several awards, including the United States Coast Guard Gold Lifesaving Medal Recipient in 2024, the USLA Valor Award in 2024, and the Carnegie Medal of Heroism in 2022.

Jon has been in the fire service for over 16 years, having spent the last 11 years with Hillsborough Township Volunteer Fire Company #2. He assists his department with health and safety as their Safety & Compliance Officer, including training and drill development. Jon has also been a member of the Somerset County Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team since 2012, where he has become a Pro Board® certified Hazardous Material Technician. In his professional career, Jon has worked in the Environmental, Health & Safety (EH&S) industry for over 18 years. He is a certified OSHA General Industry Outreach Trainer and has experience in presenting various subjects, including; Powered Industrial Vehicles (PIVs), Bloodborne Pathogens, Hazard Communication (Right-To-Know) & GHS, Hearing Conservation & Protection, Hot Work Safety, Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout / Tagout), Permit Required Confined Space Entry, Fall Prevention & Protection, and Respiratory Protection with Qualitative & Quantitative Fit Testing.

Bill is a member of the Wayne Fire Department since 1981 and a members of the Technical Rope Rescue / Confined Space Rescue / HazMat Response element of the Wayne Fire Department Special Response team since 1984. Bill is a Fire Academy Instructor Level II/Drill Ground instructor since 1992, working at the Passaic County Fire Academy since 1992. There he instructs Firefighter I and II curriculum, as well as being a lead instructor for Technical Rope Rescue/Confined Space Training programs for the Fire/EMS Divisions. He is also a New Jersey State Police Hazardous Material Response Unit (NJSP-HMRU) Certified Confined Space trainer since 1993. He has held every fire line officer position including the rank of Chief. Bill is a Construction Project Manager/Engineer by trade, having received his BSCE from NJIT in 1981. Working with the Army Corps of Engineers in Military Construction for 8 years and active in the Heavy Construction industry for the past 36 years.

Michael Terpak has been in the fire service for 40 years spending the last 36 years with the Jersey City NJ Fire Department where he is assigned as a Deputy Chief and City-Wide Tour Commander. Throughout his career he has worked in the city’s Lafayette and Greenville areas with Engines 10 & 17, Ladder 12, Rescue 1, Chief of the city’s 2nd Battalion and the former Chief in-charge of the city’s Training Division. In addition to the above, he is also the High-Rise Training Coordinator for Jersey City. Chief Terpak, who also holds a BS degree in Fire Safety Administration from the City University of New Jersey, is the author of five best-selling books, “Fire Ground Size-Up” , “Assessment Center Strategy and Tactics” ,“Fire Ground Operational Guides” “Assessment Center Management and Supervision” and Fire Officer Oral Assessment Study Guides.”

Jim joined the fire service in 2013 and currently serves as a Fire Captain and EMT with the City of Rahway Fire Department. He is a NJ Division of Fire Safety Level 1 fire instructor and also a Swiftwater Rescue Technician. In March 2016, Jim and his platoon were the recipients of a prestigious FMBA Valor Award for their work at a fire.

Tony Tricarico has been a member of the fire service since 1977 and was hired by the FDNY in 1981. Tony has served in the South Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan. In 2002 he was assigned to the Special Operations Command where he served as the Captain of Squad 252 until his retirement on the last day of 2008. Tony is a National, New York State and Maryland Fire Service Instructor III. He was an instructor at the FDNY Technical Rescue School, with multiple disciplines, training many agencies as well as military personnel. Captain Tricarico has trained many fire department's throughout the country and is a former Deputy Chief Instructor at the Suffolk County Fire Academy. Additionally, he instructs and lectures throughout the country on engine operations, truck operations, rapid intervention/firefighter rescue, firefighter survival, and special operations tactics. He has been the Lead Instructor in the Fire Emergency Training Network and American Heat training video's on collapse, elevator operations and SCBA emergencies, to name a few. Tony continues to do training with different agencies and is formerly the Technical Operations Advisor and Northeast Regional Director for Gel Tech Solutions FireIce operations, where he has trained firefighters in the U.S., Europe and Asia Minor. Tony studied Fire Science and Building Construction at John Jay College for Criminal Justice in Manhattan and has been a presenter at FDIC, Firehouse Expo & World, as well as other major venues in the U. S. & Europe. He was the key note speaker at the Magirus International Valor Awards in Ulm, Germany in 2014, and other various venues in the U. S. He is formerly a member of the Mount Sinai Volunteer Fire Department on Long Island and a former Chief of Department. Tony is currently a member of the United Communities Volunteer Fire Department, holding the PIO position and supervising the cadet program. Captain Tricarico is a Contributing Editor and has had articles published in multiple fire related periodicals both in the U. S. and Europe.

Deputy Chief Frank Viscuso served more than 26 years on the Kearny (NJ) Fire Department. He is the author of seven books, including the best-sellers Step Up and Lead, Step Up Your Teamwork, and Common Valor. Frank is a highly sought after, internationally recognized speaker who has the ability to move people to action. Frank has been chosen to be a Keynote speaker for NASA in 2019. His keynotes and seminars are designed to introduce people to the top traits associated with leadership and to equip them with the skills needed to lead, inspire, and motivate their teams.

Dennis is the Lieutenant with the City of Allentown, PA Fire Department. Dennis began his fire service career as a volunteer in Wyomissing, PA in 1994 before becoming a career firefighter in 2013. He currently serves as a Lieutenant on Engine 6, one of the city’s rescue engines, and is also an academy instructor and a Pennsylvania state fire instructor. He is dedicated to firefighter safety, survival, RIT, and truck operations.

Wells Wilson has been with the Alexandria VA Fire Department since 2006 and serves as a Battalion Chief since 2024. Prior to that promotion, Wells served as Captain at Station 6, which is an Engine and Rescue Company. He served as the program manager for the AFD’s Technical Rescue Team and also an instructor at Alexandria’s Fire Academy, where he teaches Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2, Pump Ops, Rapid Intervention, Technical Rescue skills and Petzl EXO Escape Systems. Wells joined the fire service in 1999 with the East Franklin Fire Department in Somerset, NJ. He is a life member and served as a line officer up through the rank of Assistant Chief before being hired in Alexandria.

Max began his fire service career in 2015 as a volunteer firefighter in Moorestown, New Jersey. He later served part-time as a Firefighter/EMT in the Wildwoods from 2017 to 2020 before joining Evesham Township as a career Firefighter/EMT in 2020, where he continues to serve. A committed instructor and rescue specialist, Max holds numerous certifications, including New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Instructor Level I, Incident Management Level II (IML 2), FAST Board Certified Trainer, Ice Rescue Technician (Train-the-Trainer), and Rope and Confined Space Technician. Through Evesham Township, he is an active member of the Burlington County Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team, bringing hands-on experience in structural collapse, rope rescue, swiftwater rescue, and boat operations. He also serves on New Jersey Task Force 1 (NJ-TF1) as a Technical Search Specialist. Max earned his bachelor’s degree from Stockton University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in emergency management to further enhance his expertise in disaster response and incident management.

Kevin has served over 35 years with the fire service as a volunteer and career firefighter and officer. After more than 24-years of service with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) as a lieutenant of Squad Company 270 in Queens he recently retired, but continues to serve his community as a volunteer. He has worked in the FDNY Special Operations Command (SOC) for over 20 years, and prior assignments include Squad 61, Ladder 17, and Engine 50 in the Bronx. He was also a member of FEMA NYTF-1 and the SOC Task Force. He has served as Chief of Department for the Setauket (NY) Fire Department on Long Island, a former commissioner of the Setauket Fire District and continues an active firefighter and training officer. Kevin also serves as a Suffolk County Fire Coordinator specializing in Technical Rescue. He is a Nationally Certified Fire Instructor II and is a Deputy Chief Instructor at the Suffolk County Fire Academy. He has taught many programs including hazmat, technical rescue, and shipboard firefighting for the FDNY and also currently instructs technical rescue and hazmat programs for the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. He is also the Vice President and seminar coordinator for the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation and Co-Host of the Volly House Podcast.

Jack Zuber has been an active member of the fire service since becoming a firefighter with the Freehold Fire Department in January 2014, where he currently serves as an Assistant Chief. He oversees and manages the department's training program. Jack is also a career firefighter with the Robbinsville Township Fire Department.

Prior to working in Robbinsville, Jack worked for the Millstone Township Fire District & West Windsor Township Fire & Emergency Services.

In addition to his municipal fire service career, Jack is actively involved in motorsports Fire and Rescue operations. He serves as part of the Track Safety Crews for Wall Stadium Speedway and the Indoor Auto Racing Series, providing specialized emergency response and rescue services in the high-performance motorsports environment.

Jack brings a diverse background of volunteer, career, and specialized rescue experience, offering students practical knowledge, real-world perspectives, and a passion for firefighter training and professional development. In addition to firefighting certifications, Jack holds Technician level certification in Hazardous Materials, Rope Rescue, Motor Vehicle Rescue, and Confined Space. Jack is also a Level II Instructor, Fire Official, and Fire Investigator.