Nick Sohyda is a twenty-year member of the fire service, currently serving as Chief with the Mt. Lebanon, PA. Fire Department. As adjunct and suppression level instructor with the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy, Nick has been training fire fighters for the past nine years, concentrating his efforts in the areas of fire fighter safety, survival, rapid intervention, structural fire fighting, and leadership. Nick has instructed hands-on rapid intervention training as an employee of Rapid Intervention Training Associates at numerous events including the Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World, FDIC, and the Houston Safety and Survival Symposium. Nick is certified as a Fire Officer IV and Fire Instructor II with an Associate Degree in Fire Science Technology from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor's degree in Fire Administration from the Empire State College. Nick is also a student in the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program and was named the Keystone Chapter of Fire Service Instructors 2005 Western Region Instructor of the Year.


Robert "Butch" Cobb
Jersey City Fire Department - Jersey City, NJ

Chief Cobb is a 33-year veteran of the fire service and has been a career firefighter and officer serving the Jersey City Fire Department for 31 years. DC Cobb is also the past Chief of the Dumont, NJ and West Milford Township , NJ . Volunteer Fire Departments. Chief Cobb was the one of the primary developers of the Jersey City Rapid Intervention Crew, Large Area Search and Rescuing Trapped Firefighter programs.

Cobb is a primary author of the NJ Fire Service Reference Book, “NJ Model Fire Department Incident Management Standard Operating Guides” and a developer of the NJ Division of Fire Safety Course "Implementing the NJ Incident Management System”. Chief Cobb conducts Fire Ground Survival workshops and hands on training throughout the country. He is a Contributing Editor for Firehouse Magazine and has been a featured speaker at numerous fire department conferences around the country, including the FDIC, Firehouse Expo Baltimore, Firehouse World San Diego, Worcester FD.


Mike Dugan
Fire Department of New York - New York, NY

Michael M. Dugan is a 21-year veteran of the FDNY, serving as the Captain of Ladder Company 123, in Crown Heights Brooklyn. As a Lieutenant, Dugan served in Ladder Company 42 in the South Bronx. While assigned as a firefighter in Ladder Company 43, in Spanish Harlem, Firefighter Dugan received the James Gordon Bennett medal in 1992 and the Harry M. Archer Medal in 1993, the FDNY's highest award for bravery. He is also a former volunteer firefighter, in the Halesite FD. He has been involved with the Fire Service for 32 years. He was an instructor at the inception of the FDNY's Annual Education Day and has developed programs currently taught to all FDNY members during Annual Education Day. He is the lead instructor of the "Firehouse Expo" and "Firehouse World" Engine and Truck Company HOT program and a "HOT" instructor at the "FDIC." He is a contributing editor to "Firehouse" magazine. Captain Dugan has been a featured lecturer around the country and at both the "Firehouse Expo" and the "FDIC" on topic dealing with Truck Company Operations and today's fire service.


Jack Glass
CIty of Pittsburgh EMS - Pittsburgh, PA

Jack Glass, commonly known as "Jake" is a 29 year veteran of the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS (26 of those years being part of the Rescue Division ). Jake also is a member of the Gold Team (City of Pittsburgh Hazardous Materials Team ) and a retired Paramedic Scuba Diver of the city's River Rescue Unit. He is also the Commander of the Pittsburgh EMS Honor Guard.

In his spare time, Jake takes on the role of being a Pennsylvania State certified Fire / Rescue and EMS Instructor. He is also a Technical Search Specialist for the Pennsylvania Strike Team 1 (Urban Search and Rescue Team). Jake is also a volunteer firefighter for the West Homestead Fire Department.

Jake received the Pennsylvania State "Rescue Technician of the Year" award in August 2005. He is also dedicated to being chairman of the Pennsylvania Rescue Task Force Committee along with being on the Board of Directors for the National EMS Memorial Service. He was also appointed by the Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner to serve on the Pennsylvania Fire Service Certification Committee.


Mark Gregory
Fire Department of New York - New York, NY

Mark D. Gregory is a Lieutenant at Ladder Company 111 FDNY, "The Nuthouse Truck". He previously served in Rescue 2 and Ladder 132. A Deputy Chief Instructor in Suffolk County Fire Academy on Long Island, NY, Lt.Gregory is the Ex-Chief / Commissioner East Quogue Volunteer Fire Department with 18 years in the fire service. He also serves as an instructor for Command School.




Michael Bates
Providence Fire Department - Providence, RI

Michael Bates is a Lieutenant with the Providence RI Fire Department and has been assigned to the city's heavy rescue "Special Hazards 1" for the past ten years. Lieutenant Bates has served with the busiest engine and ladder companies in the city during his 26 years with the Providence Fire Department. Lieutenant Bates is a nationally certified instructor and works with the Rhode Island State Fire Academy, the Barnstable County Fire Training Academy, the New Hampshire State Fire Academy and the Maine State Instructors Association. Mike has presented hands-on-training programs at several national fire service conferences. He is a Rescue Squad Officer FEMA USAR MATF-01 Task Force and he also responded to the World Trade Center on 9-11-01.


Matt Szpindor
Fire Department of New York - New York, NY

Matt Szpindor, a 18-year veteran of the fire service, is a Firefighter with the Fire Department, City of New York, currently assigned to Ladder 37 in The Bronx. He has served with a number of volunteer and career fire departments, including 5 years as a career firefighter with the Mt. Lebanon (PA) Fire Department. He is a Pennsylvania- and New York State-certified Fire Instructor I, and has taught numerous classes over the past 6 years, including the HACC Career Fire Academy, Michiana Fire School at the University of Notre Dame, and the FDIC in Indianapolis. He has a BBA in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame.


Mike Smith
Deputy Fire Chief, DCFD (Retired) - Washington, DC

Mike Smith, a 35 year veteran of the fire service, previously served as Deputy Fire Chief of the District of Columbia FD before his retirement. In his role with the DCFD, he served as City Wide tour Commander, Risk Manager, and Training Director. Mike holds degrees in Fire Science, Construction Management, Fire and Public Administration. His credentials also include being a Certified Municipal Manager and a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program from the National Fire Academy.

Mike is currently an international instructor and consultant for the US armed services and the fire service. Mike also proudly served his country in IRAQ summer of 2004. He is also an author and presenter for many articles and topics germane to incident command and safety.


James Crawford
Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire - Pittsburgh, PA

James K. Crawford is a Lieutenant with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire assigned to Truck Company #8 in the East Liberty section of the city and a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com. He is a Fire Suppression Instructor for the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy and the Assistant Chief of Operations for the 171st Air Refueling Wing Fire Department, Pennsylvania Air National Guard. Jim is also a Search & Rescue Manager with the Pennsylvania USAR Strike Team One (PA-ST 1). He is a graduate of the Pittsburgh Fire Academy and the Air Force Fire Academy spending four years on active duty as a firefighter. He has over 26 years experience in the career and volunteer fire service. Jim teaches nationally on the subject of firefighter rescue and is the President of Rapid Intervention Training Associates and founder of RAPID INTERVENTION.COM.