NASAR 2008 Conference Brochure by Tabitha Meltzer

Sponsored by ACR Electronics

WELCOME TO the 2008 National Search and Rescue Conference in Beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado!!!! I heartily thank the El Paso County SAR Team and Colorado Search and Rescue Board, for their support of the 2008 National Search and Rescue Conference both in the preplanning stage and onsite. Their support has assisted the NASAR Board of Directors and Staff in making this Conference an outstanding experience for us all. It is our desire to improve conference offerings from year to year. I hope you find the topics, training and education provided for you this year to be informative and meaningful. I encourage you to complete workshop evaluations for those that you attend – we have more than 50 presenters and a multitude of topics. Your feedback will guide our planning efforts for next year’s event in Little Rock, Arkansas. We are also asking that you complete the conference topic survey located in your welcome materials. I am delighted to see the international participation again this year from places such as Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. It says a lot for the quality of NASAR’s event that these SAR professionals would travel so far to take part. One of the things that helps NASAR keep the cost of the conference down is the participation of the exhibitors. This year we are pleased to have 26 exhibitors participating in the conference. Please be sure to visit the exhibit hall and browse through the many products and services available to you and your team to help you accomplish your search mission. And lastly, my sincere thanks goes to our track sponsors, without whom the 2008 National Search and Rescue Conference would have been less affordable and less enjoyable. We make every effort to keep the cost of training down for each participant, making corporate support such as our track sponsors all the more valuable. …that others may live. Warmest Regards, Kathy Johnston (formerly Miller), President.

We l c o m e t o t h e 2 0 0 8 Na t i o n a l S The Conference Concept The total emergency response community in the United Sates is immense: federal, state, and local fire and EMS, law enforcement and emergency management agencies number in the thousands and trained individual responders number in the hundreds of thousands. NASAR believes that a comprehensive emergency response conference is needed to serve this community. In accomplishing this goal, NASAR has developed a training forum which, we believe, cuts across the entire spectrum of contemporary emergency response activity, is innovative in its approach and will be attractive to a broad audience for its educational value.

Hospitality Networking is significant aspect of every NASAR conference; the ability to meet and share experiences with others in your field, one-on-one, is invaluable. To facilitate this networking experience, we have arranged a Hospitality Suite during the conference. The Hospitality Suite is located in the Cimarron II room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and will carry the tradition of nightly fun and merriment. You can purchase your Hospitality Card (one time fee of $10 for two nights of fun) at Registration or nightly in the Hospitality Suite.

National Association for Search and Rescue, Inc. The job of searching for a missing person can be an emotionally trying experience. A child is lost, a traveler is missing, a home with a family inside is devastated in an earthquake, hikers are caught in an avalanche… All of these can be stressful situations for search and rescue professionals assigned to locate and, if at all possible, save the people involved. Search and Rescue is a life-saving vocation. And the ability to save a life is often dependent upon how quickly the person can be reached. NASAR has dedicated itself to ensuring that each of you has the training and confidence required to be of service to your jurisdiction. …that others may live.

Door Prize Drawings Traditionally, NASAR has solicited door prize donations from SAR and emergency product vendors and used the sale of tickets for these items as a form of fund raising to support Association activities. This year, thanks to the generosity of numerous companies and individuals, an impressive array of useful and valuable prizes has been assembled. The NASAR Board of Directors and Conference Committee is handling the sale of tickets, so be sure to look for our traveling salespeople, or purchase tickets in the Bookstore. Drawings will be held nightly in the Hospitality Suite as well as during Exhibit Hall Hours. If you are not present, your ticket will be put back into the drawing. The Grand Prize Drawing will be held Friday, in the Hospitality Suite. YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN THE GRAND PRIZE. So join the fun! Buy tickets and take a chance to win wonderful prizes and support your Association at the same time!

Conference Information The Conference Information Center is located at Group Registration during the duration of each day’s conference activities (0800-1800). The staff at Registration will be in constant contact with all members of the Conference Team and should be able to assist with any questions that you may have.

2008 NASAR Photo Contest The 2008 Photo Contest is judged by you – an attendee of the 36th Annual Conference. Your vote will help us select a winner of the $100 first prize, $50 second prize and $25 third prize. The prize winning photographs will appear on the NASAR website. Please cast your vote at the Photo Contest Display at Registration!

l S e a rch and Rescue Conference! Conference Team

NASAR Bookstore

Kathy Johnston, NASAR President Megan Bartlett, NASAR Executive Director, IC Ross Robinson, Finance Section Chief Dan Hourihan, Operations Section Chief and Safety Officer Howard Paul, Information Officer Janet Adere, Registration Ellen Wingerd, Bookstore George Rice, Exhibit Hall Manager Eric Martin, NASAR Education Track Leader John Boburchuk, General and Management Track Leader Ken Lesperance, Government Interface, Homeland Security and Urban SAR Track Leader Pete Gannon, Public Safety Diving Track Leader Janet Yatchak, SAR Dog Track Leader DJ Walker, Technical Track Leader Philip Miller, Swiftwater/Flood Track Leader

The NASAR Bookstore is located in the Gold Camp Room. The Bookstore is your one-stop shop for books, training texts, videos, computer software, t-shirts, hats and other SAR items. Come early, the new arrivals go fast! Bookstore Hours Wednesday, May 28th Thursday, May 29th Friday, May 30th Saturday, May 31st

Contents

1300-1730 1300-1730 0830-1730 0830-1300

3 4-6 7-10 11-13 14 14 15-16 17-23

Conference Information Thursday Friday Saturday Exhibition Exhibition Hall Floor Plan Exhibitor Profiles Conference Speakers

Thursday, May 29 0900-1200 Opening Session Summit Ballroom

Welcome and Opening Remarks Kathy Johnston, NASAR President, and invited dignitaries welcome each of you to SAR 2008 and Colorado Springs.

Awards Each year, NASAR pays tribute to agencies, organizations and individuals who, through outstanding services or achievements, make a substantial contribution in the search and rescue field. At this year’s ceremony, the following awards will be given: The Peter A. Cheney Canine Handler Scholarship was established in 2004 in recognition of the former President of Mars, Inc. which owns the Pedigree brand. Pedigree established a $20,000 endowment within NASAR so that each year, a deserving canine handler could attend the NASAR conference with less financial burden. The State/Canadian Province SAR Award recognizes significant contributions to search and rescue at the state or provincial level. The award is given to an individual or a “unit”. The Instructor of the Year Award was established in 1994 to recognize significant contribution to search and rescue at the NASAR instructor level. The award is granted solely on merit to an individual selected by the NASAR Board of Directors who best represents, in their opinion, educational excellence in the field of search and rescue.

Sessi ons The Hal Foss award was established in 1974 by the NASAR Board of Directors to recognize significant contributions to search and rescue AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. The award is granted solely on merit. It may be granted to an individual or to a “unit”. It may be granted posthumously and is the most prestigious award presented by NASAR. The award is named for Hal Foss, who died during a climb in Washington State, was the Washington State SAR Coordinator, and is generally credited with forming the organization that has evolved into NASAR.

1330-1730 Workshop NASAR Edu #1, NASAR Education Silver Plume

Program Administration Workshop Eric Martin, NASAR Ground SAR Committee Chair Attendees that would like to participate in the FUNSAR, MLPI or ADSAR Instructor Workshops must attend this full session. During this session, attendees will be given the Program Administration Manual and will be required to take a short test from their respective discipline to demonstrate knowledge proficiency. Attendee must score an 80% or better to take the FUNSAR, MLPI or ADSAR Instructor Workshops. During this session, attendees will also be given a micro section to teach in respect to the discipline they wish to instruct. During the Instructor Workshop on the following days, attendees will be broken into groups to do their presentation.

1330-1500 Workshop Gen/Mgt #1, General/Management SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom III

Lost Person Behavior – Updates and Advances Robert Koester, Virginia Department of Emergency Management This talk presents the most recent advances in lost person behavior, the latest research, new models of behavior, and several new behavioral profiles. Data comes from the new International Search & Rescue Incident Database (ISRID) which contains over 50,000 SAR incidents. The data has only recently been formally examined. New work has been conducted building lost person profiles. Important regional differences have been documented. From abduction to lost Workers a total of 41 different subject categories now exist. Participants will learn how to separate fact from legend, use data that is applicable to their unique region, receive a rapid introduction to key points of each profiles, and most importantly learn where to send teams. Workshop Govt/HLS/USAR #1, Government/Homeland Security/Urban SAR Telluride

Civil Air Patrol Mission Overview John Desmarais, Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters This presentation will provide an overview of CAP’s existing and developing mission capabilities and summarize results of recent major operations. Workshop PSD #1, Public Safety Dive Pikes Peak Ballroom I

TBA Workshop K9 #1, SAR Dog SAR Centennial

Selecting your K9 Partner – Part I Robert Noziska, US Border Patrol Back by popular demand, this will be a repeat of last year’s class. This workshop will focus on the ways the United States Border Patrol Search and Rescue Team selects their K-9 partners. An emphasis will be placed on increasing participants’ knowledge of the importance of Drives and Character traits when selecting their K-9 partners. Participants will be encouraged to bring their current K-9 partners, or their possible partners for testing and training suggestions. Workshop Swift/Flood #1, Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

Animal Rescue in the Water Environment Charlie Miller, City of Ukiah FD Animal rescue in the water environment is a very dangerous endeavor. In this presentation we will cover animal behavior when they feel threatened and some of the ways to assure rescuer safety.

Thursday, May 29

Sessions Workshop Tech #1, Technical SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom II

1530-1730

1630-1730

Two Tensioned Rope Systems DJ Walker, Austin Fire Department For many in the rocky mountain region of the United States Two Tensioned Rope Systems are commonplace but in other areas they are considered taboo. For those not familiar with these systems, we will define the difference between Two Tensioned Rope Systems and the more traditional Single Tensioned Main Un-tensioned Belay Systems. We will consider the advantages and disadvantages of both. This discussion would be an excellent precursor for those planning to attend the Hands-on Technical Rescue Systems workshop series, though it is not a requirement.

1530-1630 Workshop Gen/Mgt #2A, General/Management SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom III

Search Theory – Implications and Applications in Land SAR Operations Lee Lang, Advanced Biologicals Attendees will review and learn the basic concepts involved in Search Theory and how these concepts apply to Land Search Operations. Using these concepts, the discussion turns towards the implications that Search Theory has on efficient Land SAR Operations. Lastly, we will examine how to practically apply Search Theory in Land SAR Operations. This discussion will examine how Search Theory impacts not only the Land SAR Operations Chief but also the individuals in the field. Specifically, discussions will include a brief history of Search Theory and errors that have been incorporated into the Land SAR literature. The modern literature has identified the previous errors and the authors are making a concerted effort to correct the errors of the past and demonstrate the practical application of Search Theory in Land SAR. Attendees will see how a solid understanding of Search Theory will improve search strategies and impact team members in the field. The overall goal is for attendees to take home to their SAR teams the knowledge to improve SAR operations. Workshop Govt/HLS/USAR #2A, Government/Homeland Security/Urban SAR Telluride

Catastrophic Incident Search and Rescue Richard Button, U.S. Coast Guard Disasters that overwhelm local and State SAR resources and require federal support, fall under the National Response Framework. In support of local and State SAR Responders, federal SAR Responders that comprise members of the National SAR Committee can be called to assist. Mr. Button will discuss these types of SAR operations and the National SAR Committee’s Catastrophic Incident SAR guidance currently under development.

Workshop PSD #2, Public Safety Dive Pikes Peak Ballroom I

Risk Management Strategies for Public Safety Divers: Exposure Protection and Decontamination Faith Ortins, Diving Unlimited International This seminar stresses the importance of risk management and mitigation with regard to such issues as contaminated water diving and other risks associated with public safety diving. We will discuss the importance of using proper exposure protection for the diving conditions and operation as well as the current standards for personal protective equipment for divers in the public safety field. Decontamination protocols will be reviewed and the latest in decontamination solutions and methods will be demonstrated. Workshop K9 #2, SAR Dog SAR Centennial

Selecting your K9 Partner – Part II Robert Noziska, US Border Patrol See description for Workshop K9 #1 Workshop Swift/Flood #2, Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

Mud and Debris Flow Larry Collins, Los Angeles County Fire Department Mud and Debris Flows are endemic to mountainous terrain, especially in seismically active regions with young, steep moutains that burn and flood. The huge wildfires that swept across Southern California and other parts of the west last year, followed by the storms, highlighted that issue. Mud and debris flows like a flash flood in terms of their lethality: The best thing we can do is get people out of the way of them. And whey they do happen, rescuers will be operating in the danger zone and subject to secondary mud and debris flows. So these incidents represent a serious hazard for rescuers. Workshop Tech #2, Technical SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom II

Rope Rescue Considerations Kenneth Laidlaw, Alameda County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Rope rescue presents special challenges, especially in remote areas. With new equipment constantly appearing on the market and techniques continuously being refined, the craft is a very dynamic experience. This presentation will expose new students to safe, basic fundamentals. Advanced students will increase their knowledge of best practices. All the information will reflect current testing and review the proper techniques of application. The information will benefit all groups: from cave explorers to mountain rescue personnel; swift water rescuers to industrial rope access personnel. OSHA guidelines will be considered. At the end of the presentation, each participant should be able to make safe decisions based on their needs and budget restraints. They will also know the best references for additional information.

Workshop Gen/Mgt #2B, General/Management SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom III

Cave Rescue in Puerto Rico: A Success Story of the Interaction Between Agencies and a Community Cristobal Colon, OrganiSAR, San Juan, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico is a small island with a great concentration of caves and underground rivers. Spelunking and underground exploration are frequent activities. Given the characteristics and dangers of the underground environment, the caving community has acknowledged the need of proper rescue education and preparation to minimize the risks and to be a helpful resource in case of an incident. The National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) provided the curriculum and the structure that the cavers needed for their education. The NCRC Puerto Rico team has organized week-long seminars that became the right setting to initiate an interaction between the agencies and the caving community. Training and working together have strengthened the bonds between these two groups that now have a great and mutually beneficial relationship. As a result, cavers have become more involved in SAR and more SAR professionals have become involved in caving. For example, in 2005 an ISAR course was taken by more than 30 people, half of them cavers. All of them became SARTECH III’s. This is an example that can be used as a model for reaching out to other communities like campers, hunters, etc. and incorporate them in the NASAR community. Workshop Govt/HLS/USAR #2B, Government/Homeland Security/Urban SAR Telluride

406 PLB’s, SPOT & Tracme Bob Pro, ACR Electronics This presentation will have two parts. The first will focus on 406 PLB’s, Satellite Messengers, Satellite Trackers & Trackme PLB. The session is designed to provide you with the objective facts about each type of product. Discussion will include but not limited to: The Satellite Systems, Product Features, Product & System Differences, Product Comparisons (Matrix), Strengths and Weakness’, Public Misconceptions. The second part of the workshop will discuss 121.5MHz Direction Finders: Available types of DF Hand Held units, How they work, Aircraft monitoring 121.5MHz, Product Features.

Thursday, May 29

Sessi ons

Special Interest and Evening Sessions 1800-1900

1900-2100 Workshop SIG #2 Pikes Peak Ballroom I

Workshop SIG #1 Pikes Peak Ballroom III

Mounted SAR Discussion

Meet the Candidates for the Board of Directors Ken Lesperance, NASAR Board of Director Each year, one third of the seats on the NASAR Board of Directors are open for elections. Those elected to serve can have a major impact on search and rescue nationally. We encourage you to stop by and meet the candidates who will be running for office this year. Ask them questions, get to know them. Your active involvement in the process will help ensure a viable organization in the future.

Jorene Downs, NASAR Mounted SAR Committee Chair Randy Servis, NASAR Mounted SAR Committee Liaison The door will be open for anyone interested in Mounted Search and Rescue. NASAR has seen a surge of inquiries related to this specialty in the last year and would like to foster a more organized and formalized training and certification process for Mounted SAR. Please join us as we assess the steps to be taken as this field moves forward. Workshop SIG #3 Centennial

NASAR SAR Dog Community Meeting Mike Wiederhold, SAR Dog Committee Chair This annual SAR Dog Committee meeting will allow participants to learn what has occurred within the Section over the past year as well as plans for the future. All canine handlers, whether NASAR members or not, are invited to attend the meeting.

Workshop SIG #4 Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

Water Rescue (Swiftwater/Flood/Dive) Community Meeting Norm Rooker, Water Committee Chair This meeting will allow participants to learn what has occurred within the three subcommittee sections; dive, flood and swiftwater. All those interested, whether NASAR members or not, re invited to attend the meeting. Workshop SIG #5 Pikes Peak Ballroom II

Tracking Community Meeting Del Morris, NASAR Tracking Education Task Force Chair This is a task force meeting inviting trackers to gather and discuss the past, present, and future of tracking in Search and Rescue. Relationships between NASAR and your unit will be explored. Fundamental education resources will be examined as well as NASARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in filling some of the needs. We will highlight what should be more commonality than differences and target finding a sense of unity in a common goal. Open discussion format.

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Friday, May 30

Sessions 0830-1730

Workshop Tech #3, Technical SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom II

0830-1000

Hands on Technical Rescue Systems Workshop NASAR Edu #2, NASAR Education The Executive Board Room

FUNSAR Instructor Workshop Eric Martin, NASAR Ground SAR Committee Chair During this session, attendees will learn methodologies on teaching the FUNSAR Course. Depending on the size of the class, attendees will be broken into groups to teach their micro sessions OR will teach to the group and will be evaluated by their peers. The objective evaluations will determine if the attendee receives full Instructor status. Attendees will also participate in a two hour field session on how to correctly set up the practical portions of the class. Prerequisite: Instructor Application Packet must be submitted by May 21st and the attendee must have a FUNSAR Instructor Tool Kit. Maximum attendance: 15 participants on first come first serve basis with full application packet turned in. Workshop NASAR Edu #3, NASAR Education Silver Plume

MLPI Instructor Workshop George Rice, NASAR MLPI Program Manager During this session, attendees will learn methodologies on teaching the MLPI Course. Depending on the size of the class, attendees will be broken into groups to teach their micro sessions OR will teach to the group and will be evaluated by their peers. The objective evaluations will determine if the attendee receives full Instructor status. Attendees will spend the afternoon learning how to correctly set up the table top exercises of the class. Prerequisite: Instructor Application Packet must be submitted by May 21st. Maximum attendance: 15 participants on first come first serve basis with full application packet turned in.

DJ Walker, Austin Fire Department Rod Dennison, STAR Rescue Monty Strange, Texas Rope Rescue Inc. Ken Laidlaw, Alameda County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Michael Flores, National Cave Rescue Commission Steve Hudson, Pigeon Mountain Industries, Inc. Loui McCurley, Pigeon Mountain Industries, Inc. This hands on training will provide the opportunity to get outside and practice technical rescue skills. For those who are new to technical rescue we will be providing an overview of various aspects of technical rescue including: rope and equipment, applicable standards, patient packaging, technical raising and lowering systems, and much more. For the experienced rescuer we hope to provide an in-depth look into various techniques and provide the opportunity to build on your rescue background. Friday morning we will stay at the conference center and cover some material in the classroom. This will give everyone the opportunity to catch the exhibiter’s lunch. Friday afternoon we will head into the field and perform several evolutions to build upon the classroom discussions from the morning session. Saturday we will spend all day at a local site and run multiple scenarios using different rescue techniques. This workshop is an all or nothing series. Attendance in the earlier sessions is required in order to participate in the latter sessions. Equipment will be provided, however, if you have equipment feel free to bring it, especially helmets and gloves. All equipment will be subject to approval of the workshop instructors. Appropriate shoes and attire required. To maximize quality and efficiency, we are going to limit the number of participants to 20. So sign up soon!!!

0830-0930 Workshop Swift/Flood #3A, Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

Swiftwater and Flood Vehicle Rescues Brian Ferguson, Prince William County Fire and Rescue Philip Miller, Prince William County Fire and Rescue Many calls for swift water rescue involve citizens who have driven their vehicles into flooded roadways. In this class we will first discusses the forces involved that cause cars and vehicles of all shapes and sizes to get into trouble in the first place. We will then cover the steps necessary to perform a safe and effective rescue. Topics will include: Scene size-up, vehicle stabilization, rescue techniques, and pre-planning.

Workshop Gen/Mgt #3, General/Management SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom III

Introduction to Search and Search Management in the Urban Environment Christopher S. Young, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department More and more search and rescue teams are interfacing with law enforcement in locating missing persons in the Urban Environment. This presentation will prepare managers and searchers for the specific tasks and special techniques needed for searching in the Urban Environment. This will include comparing and contrasting the Urban/ Suburban/Rural Interface with the Wilderness Search Processes, from Pre-plan through managing Urban Incidents, Special Investigation considerations, as well as the use of SAR Resources, and Documentation requirements. There will a discussion regarding door-to-door interviewing/ neighborhood canvassing. Workshop Govt/HLS/USAR #3, Government/Homeland Security/Urban SAR Telluride

Incident Management Teams and SAR Mike McDonald, Colorado SAR Board and Douglas County SAR Team Barry Mitchell, Colorado SAR Board and Douglas County SAR Team Incident Management Teams (IMTs) have moved from their traditional home in wildland fire into all-risk or all-hazard emergency response. This expansion of IMT usage has brought them into the non-urban SAR world for both staffing and operations. Large SAR operations may be managed by IMTs and experienced SAR personnel can be used to staff IMTs on non-SAR incidents. This presentation will discuss the IMT concept in general, IMTs in SAR, inclusion of SAR personnel on all-risk IMTs and issues facing volunteers on IMTs. Discussion will include SAR involvement in the State of Colorado program that is developing IMTs at the state, regional and local level, as well as examples of SAR personnel on IMTs managing non-SAR incidents. The instructors, Mike McDonald and Barry Mitchell, represent the Colorado Search and Rescue Board on the Colorado Resource Mobilization Working Group and its IMT credentialing subgroup. Both are members of the Douglas County IMT and Mike is also a member of the Pueblo Interagency Fire Zone Type 3 Incident Management Group. Their experience outside of these positions includes working Type 1 incidents.

Friday, May 30

Sessi ons

Workshop PSD #3, Public Safety Dive Pikes Peak Ballroom I

1100-1200

Dealing with Bereaved Family and Friends Tom Greenhalgh, National Public Safety Solutions Inc. Dive teams spend countless hours preparing their technical skills for responding to incidents in the aquatic environment. One area which can have a great impact on the image of a team is how we deal with the families and friends of a victim when a drowning tragedy occurs. This seminar will explore some of the issues surrounding the proper way to deal with these “secondary” victims, some of the pitfalls to avoid, and the impact on the recovery team members when faced with this inevitable part of the mission. Although geared towards the aquatic-related incident, this presentation will offer helpful insights into dealing with issues around bereavement in the nonaquatic environment. Workshop K9 #3, SAR Dog SAR Centennial

From Boredom to Stardom – Making the K9’s Life Fun While Learning Terry Crooks, David Thompson Search and Rescue SAR K9’s are called upon to work in difficult situations and sometimes for long hours. Training itself can be tedious and taxing. It is important for the success of the team that training be realistic, challenging and fun. No one likes to sit in a class room listening to a boring teacher tell them about things not interesting when they can look out the window and dream of chasing clouds, birds and butterflies. K9’s need exciting challenges and handlers need to prepare their K9 companions to learn by setting the stage and managing the K9’s energies in positive, progressive ways.

0930-1000 Workshop Swift/Flood #3B, Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

System Safety Factors Liz Varnerin, Virginia Tech Brian Sandifer, Virginia Tech Kyle Schumaker, Virginia Tech Matt Zacherle, Virginia Tech The HydroSpine is a spine-immobilizing rescue harness designed by four seniors in Industrial Design at Virginia Tech. The spine board provides self-righting flotation, head stabilization, a simplified fastening system, and handles along the top and sides, making it ideal for water rescue situations. SOLAS grade reflective tape and its bright orange color increase the visibility of the product. The HydroSpine has been designed metal-free so the victim may pass through x-ray machines without being removed from the harness. A patent is pending on the HydroSpine.

Workshop Gen/Mgt #4, General/Management SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom III

Technology and Air SAR – New Ways to Measure and Increase Performance Tom Peterson, State of Washington, Department of Transportation, Aviation Division. Quantitative data can now be collected by Air SAR organizations to measure aircrew performance or effectiveness without relying totally on the input of the aircrew members. There will be demonstrated accurate measurement of coverage and track spacing to establish real POD’s. Playback can be accomplished on a debriefing with a crew present to facilitate more accurate narrative information. Photographs of possible sightings can be linked to a GPS track to allow easy transfer of the intel to other aircrews or ground teams for follow up with minimal handling by personnel. Planning Section personnel now have the tools to evaluate coverage of sortie assignments that can be displayed visually to quickly show what has been accomplished or missed. Incident Commanders and Authorities Having Responsibility have objective documentation to defend mission execution decisions should the need arise. Workshop Govt/HLS/USAR #4, Government/Homeland Security/Urban SAR Telluride

Workshop K9 #4, SAR Dog SAR Centennial

Training Method Effects on Search Dog Performance Ben Alexander, Masters Candidate of Texas A&M University in Animal Science The aftermath of hurricane Katrina yielded a disturbing truth: we lack sufficient numbers of competent search dog [Canis familiaris] teams to respond to such an emergency. Ongoing federal legislation and mandates from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for standardized national guidelines through the National Incident Management System (NIMS) demands a change. I am currently conducting a study at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas to determine if a search dog’s competency and performance is a function of the training methods used to train obedience control, agility, and scent detection. Competent performance will be determined through passing national standardized certifications, such as those conducted by the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) which meet the NIMS typing and credentialing criteria. I will identify the relationships between the age of training onset, types of training methods used, and the performance of the search dogs in regards to performance on standardized certifications. Identifying the most effective training methods will provide handlers with predictors of success and methods to minimize welfare related issues that may impinge canine performance. Implications urge exploration into training methods in relation to handler skill and experience, evaluation and selection of canines and handlers.

SUSAR Update Chuck Wehrli, State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance SUSAR This workshop will describe the push for and the organization of State Urban Search & Rescue Teams. Since its inception it has grown to 40 states that are either in the beginning stages to well organized teams following most of the FEMA guidelines in team typing and training. Workshop PSD #4, Public Safety Dive Pikes Peak Ballroom I

TBA

Workshop Swift/Flood#4, Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

Risk Assessment for Water Operations Shawn Workman, Zodiac of North America’s Military and Professional Products Division Presentation with a brief PowerPoint show will include factors that present risk to first responders with respect to water operations. Identifying risk factors and group discussion of how to “score” risk will be accomplished. After risk factors are identified, as a group, we will discuss how to manage or mitigate risks that have been identified. After risk assessment and mitigation have been discussed, the group will discuss risk versus gain issues. The group will then be given a scenario that we will apply our risk assessment tools to and “score” the risk of the scenario as if each person in the group was responding. The group will then be shown a video of this actual scenario as it unfolds. After the video, we will discuss what actually happened and what could have been done differently. End result expected is to give all participants a useful tool to help them determine risk and mitigate risk by evaluating their planning, personnel/training, tools available, communications and their environment. Electronic copy of risk assessment tool will be available to all participants if they would like to have it.

Friday, May 30

Sessions 1330-1500 Workshop Gen/Mgt #5, General/Management SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom III

GIT/USNG/Map Standards Talbot Brooks, Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information Technologies The geography of landscape wrought asunder by disaster or terrorist attack is not unlike that of the surface of the moon. The topography by which one traditionally navigates is unrecognizable: no street signs, no house numbers, and few visual landmarks. Preparation through training in land navigation and map reading and familiarity with national standards, such as the U.S. National Grid Spatial Reference System are of the utmost importance for successful and safe response. This seminar will first review how to use mapping technologies and land navigation techniques and then teach participants how to use it to create a common, spatially referenced operational framework for disaster/emergency response. Significant mapping resources such as those offered by the US Geologic Survey and the Geospatial Information and Technology Association will also be introduced. Workshop PSD #5, Public Safety Dive Pikes Peak Ballroom I

MABAS Water Operations in Illinois Steve Orusa, Waukegan, Illinois Fire Department This presentation will focus on the development of a regional water operations response in Illinois. It will include discussion on the following: • Statewide Water Operation Team Typing • Technical and financial support for standardized safe and effective training • Technical and financial support for standardized safe and effective equipment • SOP/SOG Development • Validation of teams on a five year cycle • Inventory of ROV and Sonar technological resources • Geographical support of ROV and Sonar resources • Impact of MABAS on the Mid America Mutual Aid Compact (MAMAC) Workshop K9 #5, SAR Dog SAR Centennial

The Dog and Forensic Science – Part I Dr. Larry Myers, College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University New information on sensory function and behavior will be presented in context of older scientifically valid information. The impact of this information and the current state of forensic canine teams will be discussed. Specific problems and potential solutions will be described. Methods by which reliability of forensic teams can be improved and better supported in a forensic setting will be elaborated.

Workshop Swift/Flood #5 Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

Heading for the Storm – Film and Presentation Documenting the Research and Responses to Major Flood Events in the UK 2007 David Lane, Lane, Jefferies & Associates Ltd Fire and Marine Safety Consultants Paul Hayden, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, UK Paul O’Sullivan, Rescue 3, UK After national exercise “Triton 2004”, the Chief Fire Officers Association [CFOA] researched how disasters might be tackled, led by Paul Hayden, (Chief Executive, Hereford and Worcester FRS, CFOA lead for flooding and inland water operations), including analysis of previous U.K, E.U and U.S events. Strategic and tactical best practices, including Helio-aquatic techniques, and differing command systems for major flood (disaster) event management were examined, with key project research carried out in and with Charlotte FD and North Carolina EMD the report was published in November 2006. Key findings recognised that flood emergencies are multi-agency, multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional events impacting on a wide range of category 1 and 2 responders. Being vital to facilitate the contributions of specialists to improve response, including weather and environmental experts with rescue tactitioners and emergency managers to develop strategic policies and support the mobilisation of key resources ahead of the storm. Progression continued through multi-agency groups. However, when catastrophic ‘Yorkshire Area and Midlands Areas Floods’ arrived summer 2007, the suggested national coordination structures for flood response were initially still some way off. As the first events’ scale became clear, Government asked CFOA to action the recommendations. A multi-agency flood support team, assisted by CFOA colleagues and representatives from Environment Agency and Met Office was created to nationally assist coordinating water rescue assets. Using practices and principles common in the U.S, previously unused in the U.K, teams were bought together from the FRSs, Military, MCA and the NGO sectors. As a result of the collaborative work 9000 people were successfully rescued! This session and film, documents for delegates, an account of the preparations both in the USA and UK for the largest peacetime water rescue operations the U.K has ever faced.

1330-1530 Workshop Govt/HLS/USAR #5, Government/Homeland Security/Urban SAR Telluride

SAR & Mounted SAR Track Aware, Part I Jorene Downs, Tulare County Sheriff’s Posse Fernando Moreira, Washoe County Sheriff’s Hasty Team Mantracking is an invaluable skill for all SAR personnel. This 4 hour class provides standardized training for mantracking from the SAR perspective at the Awareness level. There is always more to learn! A special segment is included specific to Mounted SAR. Graduates will be awarded a Nevada P.O.S.T. certificate.

1600-1730 Workshop Gen/Mgt #6, General/Management SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom III

SAR Team Membership: Addressing Growth and Retention Rob Brewer, Spokane Mountaineers Search and Rescue Team Recruiting new people to your SAR unit is an ongoing effort. Sometimes we see a larger influx of people who want to get involved, especially after significant events like September 11, 2001 or local searches that get a lot of media attention. This is where the challenge truly starts. How do we accommodate this new growth? With the exception of very successful membership drives, SAR groups rarely plan for a larger-than-usual number of new volunteers. We will talk about how to develop preplans to accommodate a larger group of recruits than you are used to handling. How to we keep the volunteers we already have around? In most SAR units, there is typically a small core group of around 20% of the membership. The remaining 80% are those members who eventually stop showing up. We will focus discussion on how to retain more of this group. Workshop PSD #6, Public Safety Dive Pikes Peak Ballroom I

TBA Workshop K9 #6, SAR Dog SAR Centennial

The Dog and Forensic Science – Part II Dr. Larry Myers, College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University See workshop description for K9 #5

Friday, May 30 Workshop Swift/Flood #6, Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

Boat Operations in Moving Water George Lewis, Rescue 3 Virginia Review of different boats for swiftwater Rescue. Will look at the pros and cons of different boats and motors.

1600-1800 Workshop Govt/HLS/USAR #6, Government/Homeland Security/Urban SAR Telluride

SAR & Mounted SAR Track Aware, Part II Jorene Downs, Tulare County Sheriff’s Posse Fernando Moreira, Washoe County Sheriff’s Hasty Team See workshop description for Govt/HLS/USAR #5

Sessi ons Special Interest and Evening Sessions

1830-2100 Workshop SIG #6 Garden

1900-2100 Workshop SIG #7 Pikes Peak Ballroom III

Hug-A-Tree and Survive Program Update

Higgins and Langley Awards Ceremony Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards in Swiftwater Rescue were established by members of NASAR’s Swiftwater Rescue Committee in 1993 in honor of Earl Higgins and Jeff Langley. Earl Higgins lost his life during an attempt to rescue a 12 year old boy in the flood-swollen Los Angles River in 1980. Jeff Langley died during a helicopter incident in 1993. Prior to his death, Jeff had worked to promote the development of a multi-agency swiftwater and flood rescue program in Los Angles County. Please join Nancy Rigg (Higgins’ fiancée) and Karen Langley-Stephen (Langley’s mother) in paying tribute to this year’s swiftwater heroes.

Howard Paul, Colorado Search and Rescue Board, NASAR Board of Director This information session is for both veteran and never-ever H-A-T presenters. See the new presentation DVD and the “Learn to Present H-A-T” DVD. Learn hints and tips to make your H-A-T presentations more successful. Learn from fellow H-A-T presenters what works for them, how to work the program into local schools.

Visit Jones and Bartlett Publishers in Booth 30 Published in partnership with NASAR! Visit us during the conference to preview Fundamentals of Search and Rescue (FUNSAR), the only resource that covers SARTECH III & II requirements!

1-800-832-0034 • www.jbpub.com

Saturday, May 31

Sessions 0830-1730

0830-1000

Workshop K9 #7, SAR Dog SAR Centennial

Ethics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Discussion and Banter Workshop NASAR Edu #4, NASAR Education Silver Plume

ADSAR Instructor Workshop Eric Martin, NASAR Ground SAR Committee Chair During this session, attendees will learn methodologies on teaching the ADSAR Course. Depending on the size of the class, attendees will be broken into groups to teach their micro sessions OR will teach to the group and will be evaluated by their peers. The objective evaluations will determine if the attendee receives full Instructor status. Prerequisite: Instructor Application Packet must be submitted by May 21st. Maximum attendance: 15 participants on first come first serve basis with full application packet turned in. Workshop Tech #4, Technical SAR Meet at Group Registration then travel to North Cheyenne Park

Hands on Technical Rescue Systems See workshop Description Tech #3 Workshop SIG #8 Pikes Peak Ballroom II

ASTM Meeting ASTM Committee F-32 on Search and Rescue was created at the request of the NASAR Board of Directors in 1987. The committee has developed standards relating to equipment testing; search management and air, ground, mounted and dog training and methods. Anyone can attend the meetings and offer comments, suggestions or propose new standards activity. New members are welcome to join and be involved in the standards process. The meeting will begin with a concurrent Executive Committee meeting/ Opening session where ASTM will discuss the agenda and any executive matters. The three subcommittees will then discuss topics specific to their specialties. There have been several ballots for new and revisions to existing standards since our meeting in November. Most of the revisions and reapprovals of existing standards should pass without controversy, but time will be dedicated to dealing with negative votes on proposed standards.

Workshop Gen/Mgt #7, General/Management SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom III

Searcher Spacing, 1-2-3! Dan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor, Northeast Wilderness Search And Rescue Determination of grid searcher spacing in land searches is no longer based on a single formula. Integration of techniques from the field of Operations Research requires that Effective Sweep Width (ESW), or a surrogate, be used to determine spacing at the desired coverage based on the prevailing environmental conditions for a particular search object or subject type. This workshop will provide participants with instructions for using a set of handouts which will allow them to convert in-the-field estimates of Critical Separation (CS) or Average Maximum Detection Range (AMDR) into an estimate of ESW and determine appropriate searcher spacing. Emphasis will be on the use of easy-to-read charts as the basis for a fast three step process (1-2-3!) that avoids the need for mathematical calculations. Appropriate for ground search unit leaders, planning and operations section personnel, search managers and those who assist them. Participants will leave with a set of take-away tools for determining searcher spacing that can be utilized immediately. Workshop Govt/HLS/USAR #7, Government/Homeland Security/Urban SAR Telluride

Taking NASAR to Asia, Challenges, Implications, Outcomes Kristine Lesperance, Hawaii Emergency Management Institute Although NASAR certification programs have been taken to some South American countries as well as Puerto Rico, Asia remains a continent rich in potential. Many Asian countries have only just begun to consider the development of local responders, particularly in the areas of wilderness and disaster search. Workshop PSD #7, Public Safety Dive Pikes Peak Ballroom I

TBA

Robin Habeger, Iowa State University Foundation Ethics is a hot topic, not only in the SAR world but in business and the news. Because most important decisions in organizations and personal lives involve values and ethics, the first objective of the day is to discuss the values of business and society, and cover some ethical models you can use to make decisions. We will examine ethics in a business context, focusing on dilemmas that are encountered when dealing with employees, manager and other stakeholders. We will then discuss and translate them over to the SAR world based on some of the list-serve discussions. Workshop Swift/Flood #7, Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

North Carolina Helicopter/Aquatic Rescue Team: One Team, One Mission Todd Brown, North Carolina Emergency Management The workshop will review the development of North Carolina Helicopter and Aquatic Rescue Team, a joint effort coordinated by North Carolina Emergency Management and the North Carolina National Guard utilizing civilian rescuers trained for Helicopter Rescue utilizing the Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk. Topics will include; Candidate Selection, Training, Equipment, Communications, Resource Utilization and Coordination.

1030-1730 Workshop Govt/HLS/USAR #8, Government/Homeland Security/Urban SAR Telluride

Hazardous Materials Awareness Certification Ken Lesperance, Hawaii Emergency Management Institute This course meets the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations 29CFR1910.120, which requires Hazardous Materials Awareness level training for all responders likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release and requires a yearly refresher. The NASAR Disaster and Human Remains Detection Canine certifications require HazMat Awareness level training. The course covers the basic knowledge and resources needed to identify HazMat incidents, personal protection, use of the Emergency Response Guidebook, and how to summon the resources to address the incident. Individuals requiring a yearly refresher should contact the instructor before the class to determine level of training needed.

Saturday, May 31 1030-1130 Workshop Gen/Mgt #8, General/Management SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom III

Creating SAR Team Employee Manuals John F Boburchuk Jr, City of Johnstown, PA Fire Department An area of search team administration that is typically overlooked is the employee handbook. The employee handbook is the document that dictates how all search team members act and operate as well as how the team itself acts and operates. During this presentation, the components of a search team employee handbook will be examined as well as the creation of these components. The components that will be examined are: Mission Statements, Search Team Creeds, Standing Orders, Constitution and Bylaws, Job Descriptions, Drug Testing Policies, Sexual Harassment Policies, Firearms/ Weapons Policies, Ethics Policies, Infection Control Policies, Search and Rescue Pack Equipment Checklist, Uniform Policies and Standard Operating Procedures. Workshop PSD #8, Public Safety Dive Pikes Peak Ballroom I

Boat Water Operations Dave Abt, USA Services, Inc This session will look at how lessons learned from Military small boat operations can be applied to boat based dive rescue missions. Agencies across the country are being tasked with more diverse marine responsibilities with limited additional resources. A review of current and new equipment will be discussed that will provide solutions for these multi function mission profiles without having to add specialized equipment. In addition to looking at available platforms for dive ops and side scan platforms consideration will also be given to minimizing the risk for the boats, crews and divers during missions.

Sessi ons Workshop Swift/Flood #8, Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

Swiftwater PPEs Pat Shine, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Scott Grahn, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission This program will focus on the safety of rescuers involved in water rescue activities with regard to protecting themselves in those environments. The goal is to show rescue personnel how things evolved from back in the 80’s when the pioneers first started teams and bring them up to today’s standards utilizing equipment which we will have available on display. The workshop will cover issues that relate to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) starting with why PPE is necessary in our field of work, why some types might be better suited for certain environments versus those that aren’t. Heat related issues and proper layering, proper donning of various types of equipment, and the proper maintenance. We will discuss the need for decontaminating equipment and the proper methods recognized today. Along with items such as dry suits we will also emphasize that not all PPE is what is worn to cover the body. What about gloves, if our body is totally encapsulated what are we going to do with our hand to protect them? Even boats could be considered PPE. The object is for attendees to walk away with the knowledge that from now on they have the information to protect themselves and their fellow rescuers personally so that they return home to their family’s not only immediately after a call, but that they won’t incur a virus or bacteria that could potentially change their lives down the road.

1200-1300

Workshop K9 #8 SAR Dog SAR Centennial

Workshop SIG #9 Silver Plume

The Heart of A Hero: The drives and character traits that make a K-9 hero

SARTECH Evaluator Meeting

Ann Christensen, Idaho Search and Rescue Dogs, Inc. Learn how to determine if your dog has what it takes to be a K-9 hero and what to look for in a perspective working dog. PowerPoint presentation given on the drives and character traits found in dogs and what mix is needed in a good working scent dog.

It is requested that all current NASAR Lead Evaluators and Evaluators (both ground and K9), who are attending the NASAR Conference, attend the “SAR Tech Evaluator Meeting”. The meeting will be conducted by the Certification Review Manager (John F Boburchuk Jr) and the Ground Search Committee Chair (Eric Martin). Items that will be discussed during this meeting include, recent problems that have arisen with the certification process, upcoming changes with certifications and the updating of SAR Tech certifications. Lead Evaluator and Evaluators will have the opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns with the certification process. This meeting will allow all evaluators to network with other evaluators. This meeting will be the first of an annual Evaluator meeting that will take place at all future NASAR Conferences.

1300-1730 Workshop Gen/Mgt #9A, General/Management SAR Meet at Group Registration then travel to North Cheyenne Park

Search Tactics and Clue Awareness Howard Paul, Alpine Rescue Team Are PoD statistics accurate? Can a search IC effectively use them with your team in your terrain? Do you know what your search effectiveness really is? Are veteran searchers better or worse than new SAR team members? What distractions (fatigue, speed, etc.) detract from ability to detect clues? This field session will answer these questions for each participant. Under a variety of terrain, vegetation, sun angles and light and shadow, participants will learn what their clue detection ability is. Just as importantly, participants will also learn how to duplicate the session for their team at home. Participants should wear light hiking boots and carry a daypack with the ten essentials. Location: North Cheyenne Canyon Park, approx. four miles from the conference hotel. Transportation is the attendees responsibility. (www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=3038) Workshop Gen/Mgt #9B, General/Management SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom III

Applying ICS to SAR Incidents – A hands-on workshop Bill Ray, SARQuest Search Specialists This workshop will give participants an opportunity to utilize their ICS training to manage incidents in a realistic, scenario-driven exercise. Participants will work on realistic scenarios using a model town to apply ICS management techniques under life-like conditions. If you have never been on a search or have managed many incidents, this course will put your skills and experience to work. Designed for participants of all skill levels, this workshop will expand your comfort zone and allow you to learn from other participants. Prerequisites: FEMA IS-100 and IS-700 should be completed prior to the class. Workshop K9 #9 SAR Dog SAR Centennial

The Indication: Trained, Independent, Reliable Ann Christensen, Idaho Search and Rescue Dogs, Inc. The first portion of this class will be a PowerPoint presentation and discussion on the importance of the indication and the pros and cons of the various types of indications. We will also discuss the different rewards systems and how they are used to develop a solid indication. The remainder of the class will be spent in hands on exercises I use to develop the indication.

Saturday, May 31

Sessions 1300-1400

1530-1630

1630-1730

Workshop Swift/Flood #9A, Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

Workshop Swift/Flood #10A, Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

Workshop Swift/Flood #10B, Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

Their Bark is Worse Than Their Bite: Managing the Media

History of Rescue Boards

Low-Head Dam Operations

Michael Croslin The birth of a rescue specialty...a history of content development, teaching methodology, and equipment choice. A historical review of the reasoning, experimenting and collaboration behind the development of the Swiftwater Rescue Technician standard that is now utilized worldwide as the basic training for moving water. Recognizing the evolving nature of such a young rescue specialty, this talk will review some of the contrasting and wide ranging approaches to common and complex rescue problems. The focus is on creative problem solving, learning from each others shared experience and active participation. The goal of this workshop is to develop some improved approaches via group process. This discussion is scheduled for several hours and all experienced hands are expected on deck.

Gary Gesling, Prince William County Fire and Rescue Low-Head Dams present rescuers with extremely dangerous operating circumstances, and frequently contribute to national and worldwide drowning statistics. A failure to understand the hydraulics and the tremendous power created by these man-made flood control systems typically result in inadequate size-up, underestimation of flows, overestimation of rescuer capabilities, and subsequent demonstrations of poor judgment in training activities and emergency operations. This presentation is designed to expose some of the inherent risks, hazards, and misconceptions of operations at low head dam incidents or training activities, as well as to facilitate attendee interaction regarding rescue options to consider when faced with low-head dam scenarios.

Cindy Matthews, West Metro Fire and Rescue Micki Trost, West Metro Fire and Rescue When news breaks, will you be prepared to manage the media? During the chaos and confusion that often accompany an emergency situation, how should you work with other responders, the media, impacted families, emergency personnel, elected officials, other communications professionals who have offered to help? Dealing with the media takes understanding and skill, but the first step towards managing the media is understanding the media. This workshop helps rescuers and emergency personnel make the most of media opportunities during search and rescue operations. Whether or not youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the official Public Information Officer (PIO), you may find yourself fulfilling that role during an emergency. It could be your job to provide the most up-to-date, timely and accurate information in that emergency or crisis situation. Often times, you will be the first face we see or voice we hear providing first-hand reports about a building collapse, fires, dangerous weather situations, or public safety issue.

1300-1500 Workshop PSD #9, Public Safety Dive Pikes Peak Ballroom I

TBA

1530-1730 Workshop PSD #10, Public Safety Dive Pikes Peak Ballroom I

DP1 Surface Supply System Pete Gannon, Dive Rescue International This lecture will discuss the advantages of using the light weight surface supplied air system during rapid deployment. The DP1 is the newest surface supply diving system on the market. The DP1 surface supply system hose and surface supply dive control panel enable rapid deployment into remote locations.

1400-1500 Workshop Swift/Flood #9B, Swiftwater and Flood SAR Pikes Peak Ballroom IV

Ohio State Deployment Resources Eric Reed, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft This informational session will introduce you to the way the Ohio Department of Natural Resources outfits its rescue teams with gear and support. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft has been performing swiftwater/flood rescues since 1979, and helped pioneer some of the most commonly used tactics. Today we have 98 employees, 11 field offices and 10 outfitted rescue trailers located throughout the state of Ohio. Please join me to learn more about how this agency provides gear and support with their rescue trailers, rapid response, and trained employees to flooding emergencies.

E x h ib i t H a l l F l o o r Pl a n

Schedule Thursday, May 29th 1300-1730 Grand Opening of the Exhibit Hall Friday, May 30th 1000-1600 Exhibit Hall Open 1130-1200 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Luncheon for Exhibitors 1200-1330 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Luncheon for Attendees

An important part of your educational experience at the 2008 National Search and Rescue Conference will be the quality of time you spend in the Exhibit Hall. For two days, May 29th and 30th, you will have an opportunity to see firsthand and experience hands-on the advances in equipment/product technology and specialized services available to SAR organizations and individuals.

Booth Locations

ACR Electronics, 18

Johnson Outdoors, Inc/Humminbird, 33

Air Force Rescue Coordnation Center, 23

Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 30

Becker Avionics, Inc., 36

Katie's Bumpers, 19 & 20

City of Little Rock, Arkansas, 27

Liberty Mountain, 5

Cobham Tracking & Locating Ltd, 22

Ocean Reef, 26

Dive Rescue International, 31

OS Systems Drysuits, 39

Diving Unlimited International, 25

Rescue Essentials, 21

DQE, Inc., 35

RockWest Technology Group, 32

Emergency Responder Reply System, 37 & 38

SAR Shop, 28 & 29

Geospatial Information & Technology Assn, 2

USA Services, 24

Incident Response Technologies, 3

Weeb Enterprises, LLC, 34

Infinity Gear & Technology, 4

Whitewater Research & Safety Inst, 1

E x h ib i t o r P ro f i l e s ACR Electronics Booth 18 5757 Ravenswood Rd Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312-6645 (800) 432-0227 rcrowder@acrelectronics.com www.acrelectronics.com

Diving Unlimited International Booth 25 1148 Delevan Dr San Diego, CA 92102 (800) 325-8439 faith@dui-online.com www.dui-online.com

World leader in Survival and Safety Technologies, signaling lights, PLBs, and hand held direction finders.

Diving Unlimited International, Inc. is a diving equipment manufacturing company specializing in drysuits and diver thermal protection. Established in 1963, DUI has an extensive line of Public Safety Drysuit Systems and Decontamination Systems that enable divers to stay safer in operational diving situations.

Air Force Rescue Coordination Center Booth 23 650 Florida Ave (Stop 73) Tyndall AFB, FL 32403-5017 (850) 283-5955/ (800) 851-3051 http://www.1af.acc.af.mil/units/afrcc/

DQE, Inc. Booth 35 8112 Woodland Drive The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center operates the Indianapolis, IN 46278 national search and rescue network ensuring timely and (800) 355-4628 nwilliams@dqeready.com effective lifesaving operations. It is responsible for the www.dqeready.com execution of the National Search and Rescue Plan and mobilizes to support wartime combat search and rescue operations. The Center provides Air Force instruction to DQE manufactures emergency disaster equipment and supplies for the first responders, hospital and industrial the National Search and Rescue School and federal, emergency response. Products include decontamination state, and local agencies. It acts as the proponent for and rehab showers, containment pools, leak and spill worldwide rescue coordination operations and reports supplies, personal protective gear, emergency lighting directly to the 1st Air Force, Air Combat Command. and mass casualty supplies. Customized kits and packaging are available. DQE proudly celebrates 17 years of Becker Avionics, Inc. service. Booth 36 10376 USA Today Way Emergency Responder Reply System Miramar, FL 33025 Booth 37 and 38 (954) 450-3137 ext 212 PO Box 93 lon@beckerusa.com DeWitt, NY 13214 www.beckerusa.com (315) 701-1372 eruscitto@emergencysmc.com Becker Avionics, Inc., manufactures NVG compatible www.iamresponding.com communications, navigation and search and rescue equipment for air, ground and maritime use. Becker’s Radio Direction Finders cover VHF 121.5 MHZ, 243.0 Know who is responding! Responders press one button on any phone, and computer screens immediately MHZ, and maritime ch 16 and 406.025 MHz. In display who is responding, and when and where they addition it is adjustable to other radio frequencies. are responding. No one needs to answer any telephone or radio calls, and no software or unique City of Little Rock, Arkansas hardware needs to be purchased or installed. Booth 27 Destination of the 2009 National Search and Geospatial Information & Technology Association Rescue Conference. Booth 2 14456 East Evans Avenue Cobham Tracking & Locating Ltd. Aurora, CO 80014 Booth 22 (303) 337-0513 271 Brownlow Avenue bobsamborski@gita.org Dartmouth, N.S. www.gita.org Canada B3B 1W6 800-NO-LIMIT The Geospatial Information & Technology Association E-mail: psteward@cobhamtl.com (GITA) created the Geospatial Dimensions of Website: www.cobhamtl.com Emergency Response Symposium to address the application of mapping technologies to emergency and disaster Cobham Tracking & Locating is a world leader in the response. The first Symposium was held in Seattle, development, design and manufacture of electronic Washington, in March 2008, and was overwhelmingly tracking and locating equipment. When lives are at well received. The 2009 Symposium is slated for April stake, search and rescue professionals around the globe 19-22 in Tampa, Florida. Visit gita.org/ers for more rely on our ProFIND line of equipment including Cospas-Sarsat beacons and hand-held direction finders. information! Dive Rescue International Booth 31 201 N. Link Lane Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 482-0887 pkitchens@diverescueintl.com www.diverescueintl.com Dive Rescue International’s approach to preparedness ensures agencies respond effectively to water-incident scenes by combining: Updated knowledge of rescue and recovery; Experienced trainers who work in the field; Field exercises with standards that ensure sustainable performance; Provide equipment for all public safety professionals. DIVE RESCUE INTERNATIONAL INC. “Setting the public safety standard since 1977.”

Incident Response Technologies Booth 3 3131 South Vaughn Way Suite 135 Aurora, CO 80014 (720) 221-7394 jarret@irtsoftware.com www.irtsoftware.com Incident Response Technologies creates innovative technology solutions for emergency services agencies. Our premise is simple: we want to be your exclusive provider of technologically advanced, budget-conscious products and services to help your agency deliver top quality service to your community. For innovative solutions for emergency services… “Your Search Ends Here”. Infinity Gear & Technology Booth 4 1725 Vista View Dr Longmont, CO 80504 (303) 772-8187 jessica@infinitygear.com www.infinitygear.com Infinity manufactures solutions for SAR such as field programmable 2-way portable radios, FEMA/SAR 24 hour packs and recently introduced an “on man” combination GPS Speaker Microphone with LCD. Connected to most any 2-way radio, the GPS-MIC-1 provides critical real-time information for both the Team Member and Incident Command. Johnson Outdoors, Inc/HumminBird Booth 33 108 Maple Lane Eufaula, AL 36027 (334) 695-3328 www.humminbird.com jluther@johnsonoutdoors.com A high performance affordable side scan sonar product that includes a transducer that is 1”x3”x6” that can be mounted directly to the boat. The fully water proof 8” display and GPS are ideal for SAR team use. Jones and Bartlett Publishers Booth 30 40 Tall Pine Drive Sudbury, MA 01776 (978) 579-8328 apakiela@jbpub.com www.jbpub.com Jones and Bartlett Publishers and our distinguished partners are committed to providing educators and instructors with the most accurate and innovative teaching and learning solutions available. We have partnered with many organizations to provide you with superior educational materials to help drive the future of public safety training. Katie’s Bumpers Booth 19 & 20 200 Skyline Drive Golden, CO 80402 (303) 642-0544 jill@katiesbumpers.com www.katiesbumpers.com Katie’s Bumpers, the Original tough and durable Fire Hose Dog Toys, are designed to help you train and reward your dogs on land or water. Our Velcro toys are perfect for HRD training. Some toys squeak, some don’t and most of them float. 25% discount off of retail for all toys purchased at NASAR.

E x h ib i t o r P ro f i l e s Liberty Mountain Booth 5 4375 W 1890S Salt Lake City, UT 84109 (800) 366-2666 ext 223 garretts@libertymountain.com www.libertymountain.com

SAR Shop Booth 28-29 14512 Filmore St Arleta, CA 91331-5015 (818) 896-1106 info@sarshop.com www.sarshop.com

Weeb Enterprises, LLC Booth 34 PO Box 2142 Mchenry, IL 60051 (630) 888-5918 csmith@weebenterprises.com www.weebenterprises.com

Liberty Mountain offers high quality technical work and rescue equipment competitively priced to meet the needs of today’s rescue professionals. Available products range from pulleys, ropes and harnesses to water bottles and thermal layers. In addition to the wide selection, we offer the quickest customer service, shipping 95% of orders the same day.

SAR Shop, a division of Hi-Flow Graphics, is the store that wants to give you more recognition for what you do in search and rescue. All of their apparel designs and accessories are created with these thoughts in mind: professionalism, integrity and trust. This is what they believe a SAR responder should be from their head to their toes.

Weeb Enterprises is the manufacturer of the innovative Penguin Ice Ladder. Chris Smith, the inventor, plans on revolutionizing the way ice diving operations are preformed. The Penguin Ice Ladder aids in the safety of personnel during ice dive operations. Safety and the ease of operation is the key focus of Weeb Enterprises.

Ocean Reef Booth 26 1699 La Costa Meadows Dr Suite 101 San Marcos, CA 92078 (760) 744-9430 ocean.reef@oceanreefgroup.com ldunn@oceanreefgroup.com www.oceanreefgroup.com

USA Services Booth 24 1818 Margaret Ave. Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 626-1122 dabt@usaservices.com www.usaservices.com

USA Services is the recognized leader for the advanced marine safety and maritime tactical equipment in the OceanREEF is the proud maker of the Neptune System, Mid-Atlantic region. We represent manufacturers of a complete line of diving and communication products, inflatable boats and the finest rescue equipment in the including the Neptune Space, Space Predator and Space first responder market. Raptor full-face masks with integrated regulator, underwater communication systems, integrated audio-video systems and a wide variety of accessories. OS Systems Drysuits Booth 39 761 Greenlawn Ave Islip Terrace, NY 11752 (631) 277-8636 www.ossystems.com Makers of quality drysuits and thermal wear for 30 years. We make drysuits for Public safety, diving, paddling, military and sailing. Rescue Essentials Booth 21 355 E Rainbow Blvd Salida, CO 81201 (719) 539-4843 saravolkmann@bresnan.net www.rescueessentials.com Rescue Essentials began as SAM Medical’s online direct-to-consumer distributor, selling SAM Splints, Celox, Blist-O-Ban and the rest of SAM Medical’s unique line, and related products. They continue to expand their range, adding innovative EMS and Tactical Medical items whenever they can pass excellent value on to their customers. RockWest Technoloy Group Booth 32 6820 N Broadway Unity J Denver, CO 80221 (303) 579-0263 jessica_smith@rockwesttech.com www.rockwesttech.com RockWest Technology Group is the leading Systems Integrator provider in the southwestern region. We offer a variety of solutions including: photo ID systems, door access systems, CCTV and DVR, time and attendance systems, asset tracking software, and NIMS based systems emergency management. RockWest provides on-site service, supplies and accessories.

Whitewater Research and Safety Institute Booth 1 1745 S Milestone Dr. Salt Lake City, UT 84140 (435) 901-2571 jd@whitewaterhelmet.com www.whitewaterhelmet.com The Whitewater Research & Safety Institute’s MISSION is “To promote water recreation safety and save lives by disseminating knowledge and improving equipment.” To this end WRSI products including helmets, rescue rope sytems, face and ear protection systems, are taken from conceptual design engineering through prototype testing and manufacturing with constant scrutiny to ensure the highest standards are met for rigorous use in water recreation and water rescue markets (www.whitewaterhelmet.com).

V I P s a n d Co nfe re n ce S p ea ke r s

VIP Colorado Springs Vice Mayor Larry Small has been a resident of Colorado Springs since 1973. He was first elected to serve the last two years of the vacated District 2 council seat in 1991 and was most recently elected to an At–Large council seat in April 2003. He was elected Vice Mayor in April 2005. He was elected to the Colorado Municipal League Executive Board at the CML annual conference in June 2006. In addition to his duties as Vice Mayor, Mr. Small serves as the Colorado Springs representative on the Board of Directors of the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments; as a Commissioner of the Colorado Springs Housing Authority; as Vice Chairman of the El Paso County Regional Building Commission; as Vice Chairman of the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority; as a member of the Colorado Municipal League Policy Committee; as the Colorado Springs representative on the Fountain Creek Visioning Oversite Committee; as co-chair of Imagine Downtown; as a member of the Imagination Celebration Steering Committee; and as Council Liaison to the Colorado Springs Telecommunications Policy Advisory Committee. Mr. Small holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering/Math from the West Virginia Institute of Technology in Montgomery, West Virginia. He is the retired Director of Turkish Operations, Lockheed Martin Corporation. He is a member of the Colorado Springs Downtown Lions Club.

Conference Speakers Dave Abt, Master-USCG has spent his entire life in and around the marine environment. Having grown up in a sailing family on Cape Cod, he began sailing at the age of 6 and was sailing offshore by the age of 14. Dave is also a licensed PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer having taught scuba diving throughout the United States as well as at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. It is easy to say that his whole life continues to center around maritime activities. Additionally, Dave is Past-President of the Chesapeake Area Professional Captains Association.

When not diving, Dave works with Law Enforcement and First Responders providing tactical boat and water rescue training. His varied vessel operating experience in tactical boat and water rescue on inland, coastal and offshore waters provides him with a unique understanding of the vessels, teams and assets required for the marine segment of Public Safety.

Dave manages the Annapolis, MD office of USA Services, Inc.; the recognized leader for Public Safety boats and equipment as well as marine survival equipment. Dave and his team are uniquely qualified to provide the appropriate boats, marine equipment and PPE to the Public Safety sector. (Workshop PSD #8) Ben Alexander is a masters candidate graduate

student at Texas A&M University in Animal Science, Applied Ethology under the direction of Ted Friend Ph.D. I am also a canine handler certified with NASAR for SARTECH II, K9 SARTECH III Area Search, K9 SARTECH Human Remains Detection Land, K9 SARTECH Disaster Responder – live, and a newly appointed Human Remains Detection Land Evaluator. I have over 35 years of dog training experience and have volunteered in search and rescue since 2000. I have responded to a variety of missions with my search dogs, including the recovery response post hurricane Katrina in the spring of 2006. I am also an obedience instructor and a temperament evaluator for a local therapy dog organization. My goal is to obtain a PhD and continue to do research in detector dogs to help the search dog community, law enforcement, and the people we serve. (Workshop K9 #4) John Boburchuk has been involved in the

Emergency Services and Search and Rescue since 1996. I am a career firefighter for the City of Johnstown, PA. I am the Chief of the Bedford County Wilderness Search Team and the Patrol Director for Blue Knob All Seasons Resort in Claysburg, PA. I am a local level instructor for the PA State Fire Academy with Bucks County Community College and have worked part time or full time as an Emergency Medical Technician for the past 11 years. I have written articles on Search and Rescue Topics for trade magazines and I am a past presenter at the NASAR conferences. I am a Level III, II and I SARTECH Lead Evaluator as well as a NASAR Instructor. I own Wilderness Emergency Response Institute, LLC. which is a corporation that provides Search, Rescue, Wilderness Medicine and Ski Patrol courses.

(Workshop Gen/Mgt #8) Rob Brewer showed up to his first SAR meeting

in June of 1998 not knowing what he was getting himself into. Little did he know that nearly ten years later he would still be involved. His friends suspected he would stick around, but didn’t tell him as they didn’t want to scare him off. Rob served as both training officer and president of Spokane Regional Search and Rescue before taking some time to become a SARTECH II Evaluator and then Coordinator (now Lead Evaluator.) When he returned to the local SAR scene, he joined the Spokane Mountaineers Search and Rescue team. He is

serving as the training officer for this unit and the vice-chair for the Spokane County SAR Council through the end of 2007. Rob’s SAR interests have evolved over the years and he is now most interested in pursuing accreditation with the Mountain Rescue Association for his team as well as growing a NASAR presence in the Pacific Northwest.

(Workshop Gen/Mgt #6 Talbot J. Brooks A chance encounter while deliv-

ering pizzas eventually led Talbot Brooks to a career in GIS. Brooks is a fourth generation firefighter who first entered the fire service in 1988 with the Wareham (MS) Fire District. He currently serves with the Bolivar County Fire District in Bolivar County, MS and has a special passion for the application of maps and geospatial technologies to emergency services. Brooks had earned a bachelor’s degree in biology/premedicine and intended to become a medical doctor. While waiting to report to Medical Service Corps officer basic training, he was delivering pizzas. A delivery to staff members of the Agricultural Research Service Lab in Chandler, Arizona, led to a temporary position in 1993 as a research technician working in remote sensing, modeling, and GIS that evolved into a permanent position once Brooks returned from active military service. In 1998, he earned a master’s degree from Arizona State University (ASU). Brooks took a position at Arizona State University in January 2001 that allowed him to put his skills to the test in the classroom and through real-world projects. With ASU geography chair Dr. Breandan O’hUallachain, Brooks created successful undergraduate certificate and master’s GIS programs that combine theory with practice and ethics. His current position as director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information Technologies at Delta State University in Mississippi began in January 2005. Brooks and other geospatial professionals in the region are developing better standards for geospatial education, helping Mississippi develop a geospatial data infrastructure, and advancing the role of GIS in business and government. He is most recently known for efforts in assisting the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency with mapping during the first weeks of Hurricane Katrina. Talbot currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Geospatial Information and Technology Association and helped develop that organization’s Emergency Response Symposium (http://www.gita.org/ers). The latter is an effort to close the gap between geospatial and emergency professionals – all are welcome to participate. (Workshop Gen/Mgt #5) 17

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Todd Brown has served with the North Carolina

Division of Emergency Management since 2000 when he joined the team as a Hazard Mitigation Community Development Specialist. In this position, Todd assisted the counties and municipalities assigned to him by developing all types of mitigation projects which dramatically increased the safety of citizens during disasters. In 2006, Todd took the position of State Search and Rescue Coordinator, having been intimately involved in the Search and Rescue field for the past 12 years in three different States, (Maryland, Ohio and NC). Todd works with local first-line responders to enhance all aspects of the Search and Rescue response to include coordinating State Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces, Swiftwater Rescue Teams, the Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Technician (HART) program and Wilderness SAR resources. Todd also serves as Search Commander and works a Scent Discriminating-Air Scent K9 with Wake Canine Search and Rescue, an all volunteer land search team in Wake County, North Carolina. (Workshop Swift/Flood #7) Richard Button, is Chief of the Coordination

Division, Office of Search and Rescue, United States Coast Guard and serves as Secretary of the National Search and Rescue Committee. Mr. Button and his staff conduct outreach and education, as well as coordinate search and rescue policy and management issues, both nationally and internationally. Mr. Button recently retired from the Coast Guard after serving twenty-two years on active duty. During his Coast Guard career, Mr. Button served on several Coast Guard cutters as well as twice serving as cutter commanding officer. Mr. Button is a 1984 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy and a licensed Coast Guard Master Mariner.

(Govt/HLS/USAR #2A) Ann Christensen is President and Founder of

Idaho Search & Rescue Dogs, Inc. and has been active training and handling search dogs since 1994. She and her dogs have responded on numerous incidents and are credited with a number of live finds and body recoveries. They have worked with numerous local and federal law enforcement agencies including the National Park Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Ann is currently working her fourth K-9, Kessa, in cadaver recovery, tracking, and first responder disaster. Ann is NAPWDA’s SAR Liaison for the western half of the U.S and she and Kessa were the first civilian dog team to receive NAPWDA cadaver certification. Ann and Kessa are also certified through IPWDA, LETS, and ISARD.

Ann is a National Registry EMT-I (85) and holds an Associate Degree from Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. She has been a canine instructor for the past thirteen years and currently owns and operates High Country Shepherds in Shelley, Idaho. In addition to her work in search and rescue, Ann teaches numerous canine, SAR, and EMS classes. (Workshop K9 #8-9) Larry Collins is a 28-year member of the County

of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD); a captain, USAR Specialist and paramedic assigned to USAR Task Force 103, which responds to technical rescues and multi-alarm fires across Los Angeles. He is a Search Team Manager for the LACoFD’s FEMA/OFDA US&R Task Force for domestic and international response, and he serves as an US&R Specialist on the “Red” FEMA US&R Incident Support Team, with deployments to the Oklahoma City bombing, the 9-11 Pentagon collapse, Hurricanes Frances, Ivan, Dennis, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, and several National Security Events. He is author of many research articles and case studies, and is author of the textbook series titled Technical Rescue Operations, and the Rescue chapter of The Fire Chiefs Handbook. (Workshop Swift/Flood #2) Cristobal Colon was certified as SARTECH II and became an ISAR Instructor for NASAR in 2007, prior to that; he was a NASAR Basic Water Rescue Instructor. He has been a Cave Rescue instructor since 1996 for the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) and he also has worked as guide for caving and outdoor adventures tours. Even though he is a full-time computer engineer for Puerto Rico’s electric company, he dedicates a great amount of time to rescue-related education, caving, and outdoor activities.

Cristobal is a member of OrganiSAR, a group of SAR instructors and other personnel dedicated to the promotion of SAR education and the dissemination of proper practices for rescue management and operations in Puerto Rico. OrganiSAR intends to use the cave rescue model to reach out to other groups and promote SAR education among them.

(Workshop Gen/Mgt #2B) Terry Crooks has been a member of David Thompson Search and Rescue for over twenty five years in North West Montana. He current serves DTSAR as the Mountain Unit Leader and K9 handler. Terry has successfully trained three personal certified Search and Rescue dogs with a current fourth in its first six months of training. His K9’s have seen active duty in avalanche, water, hr, area, disaster, tracking, drug and evidence searches. Terry has served as past

president and member of Western Montana Search dog and currently serves on the executive board of the National Search Dog Alliance.

(Workshop K9 #3) Mike Croslin, MD is one of the co-developers of the Swiftwater Rescue Technician program and a co-founder of Rescue3 International. He also is a founding member and lifetime honorary member of TCSAR. Mike helped develop many of the standards, techniques and equipment currently used in swiftwater rescue today. He is a R&D consultant for Pigeon Mountain Industries and anyone else that will listen. Hopelessly addicted to SAR since the age of 14, he considers himself incurable. (Workshop

Swift/Flood #10A) Rod Dennison has been involved in rescue since 1979. He has been an NCRC instructor since 1989 and has served on the Education Board. Retired from the State of Texas where he was a regional EMS Director, Rod teaches at the paramedic program at Central Texas College and is the lead instructor for rescue-related courses at Mclennan Community College. Rod is a licensed Paramedic with experience in street, tactical and wilderness medicine. He was a Rescue Specialist with Texas Task Force 1. He teaches Technical, Confined Space, Haz-Mat, Swiftwater, Cliff and Cave rescue. He also teaches Search & Rescue, wilderness medicine and wilderness survival. Rod is co-owner of STAR Rescue, a consulting firm that provides medical, safety and rescue courses to wilderness, agency and industrial clients throughout the US, in Mexico and the Caribbean.

(Workshop Tech #3-4) John W. Desmarais, Sr., is the Deputy Director of Operations for the National Headquarters of Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary. John serves as the headquarters point of contact for all emergency services, counterdrug, and homeland security matters. He interfaces with federal, state, and local personnel on operations issues, and assists in formulating the operations policies, program goals, and objectives for CAP with the USAF and other counterpart agencies at the national level. He has been involved with Civil Air Patrol operations in varied capacities and levels for over 20 years. While serving at the national headquarters, he has also worked several high priority projects. John is also a life member of NASAR. He resides in Montgomery, Alabama and is married to the former Mary Leigh Strickland. They have two sons, Will and Wade. (Govt/HLS/USAR #1)

V I P s a n d Co nfe re n ce S p ea ke r s

Jorene Downs has been active in SAR in California since 1995, with a specialty of Mounted SAR. She is also cross trained in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and is a former CERT Program Coordinator. Jorene teaches at clinics and conferences across the country, and is active regarding SAR, Mounted SAR and CERT at the state and national level. She has multiple published articles specific to the effective use of Mounted SAR as a SAR and disaster resource. Jorene is also a Nevada P.O.S.T. certified Mounted SAR ManTracker and an assistant instructor for that course. (Govt/HLS/USAR #5-6) Lieutenant Brian Ferguson is a full time career

firefighter and a Nationally Registered Paramedic for Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue in Northern Virginia. He is also a Swift Water Rescue Instructor for Rescue 3 International. He holds a Bachelors of Science from Virginia Tech and a Masters of Public Administration from George Mason University. (Workshop Swift/Flood #3A) Michael Flores, whose caving career began in 1968, has a strong interest in vertical and river caves. Michael was very active in pushing caves in New York and West Virginia while living in New England. After graduating from college, he moved to Idaho and learned about alpine caving. He also spent time rock climbing in many of the popular areas throughout the United States. Michael became interested in cave rescue techniques after attending his first National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) national event five years ago. He is currently working towards achieving his Instructor Qualifications (IQ). Michael has prepared several Cave Rescue Plans and helped instruct at regional NCRC events and Orientation to Cave Rescue (OCR) events. (Workshop Tech #3-4) Pete Gannon retired as a Battalion Chief of

Lauderhill Fire Department after 25 years of service where he was also Dive Team Commander. He is currently acting as Dive Team Leader at Plantation Volunteer Fire Department and has been active with this department for the past 27 years. He has also been active on the Broward Sheriff’s Office Dive Team for the past 15 years. He was a yacht captain for 7 years on a 100-foot yacht that chartered for dive trips in the Caribbean and Bahamas. He has been a Corporate Instructor with Dive Rescue International since 1979. Currently he is the President of Dive Rescue International. He is the Past President of Florida State Fire Service Instructors. For the past 1 ½ years he has been working as a Field Examiner for the Florida State Fire Marsha’s Office.

The most recent award received, among many received throughout the years of his career, was the Robert G. Teather Award for Lifelong Contributions to the Safety of Public Safety Divers presented at the IADRS Conference in September, 2006. After logging over 5100 dives, he received Pro Diver status from SSI.

(Workshop PSD #10) Gary Gesling is a Rescue 3 International Master Instructor and has been delivering flood/swiftwater rescue training in numerous locations in the eastern U.S. since 1996.

He is also a career firefighter with Prince William County (Va.) Department of Fire and Rescue, serving since 1978, and spearheading the department’s SWR and Ice Rescue Programs. (Workshop Swift/Flood #10B) Scott Grahn and Pat Shine are Instructor

Trainers for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Both were recipients of the Higgins and Langley award in 2004 for Pennsylvania’s comprehensive program in training rescue personal in Swiftwater Rescue. They are part of a PEMA task force coordinating the availability of swiftwater teams that can be predeployed when flooding is eminent both in state and out of state. They have trained rescuers in PA along with leaders of the PA State Police SERT team and the PA Army National Guard aviators Blackhawk division. Additionally, they are adjunct instructors for Zodiac Maritime Academy and consultants in swiftwater issues. (Workshop Swift/Flood #8)

Robin Habeger works at Iowa State University Foundation as a Director of Development in Corporations and Foundation Relations. She possesses a Masters of Community and Regional Planning and a Masters of Business Administration from Iowa State University. Prior to joining the Iowa State University Foundation she was the Director of Industry Relations at Iowa State University College of Business where she served as a marketing and business coach as well as assisted companies with finding appropriate faculty for research initiatives. Ms. Habeger has published case studies in the Case Research Journal; one was nominated for case of the year in 2003.

Ms. Habeger has been involved in search and rescue and K9 search and rescue since 2001. She and her border collie, Talyn, are certified and actively train/respond with STAR 1 Search and Rescue, Central Iowa Underwater Search and Rescue and Iowa Task Force 1. Robin is the founder and executive director of the Paws of Life Foundation which is dedicated to the placement of working K9’s and the education of them and their handlers using positive science based methods. Robin lives in Ames, Iowa with three dogs and a cat. (Workshop K9 #7)

Tom Greenhalgh has 26 years of public safety

experience having worked in the Law Enforcement, Fire Services, and EMS fields. He currently works as a Police Lt./Paramedic in Billerica, MA. Tom has been involved in public safety diving since 1986 serving as the co-founder and team leader for the Merrimack Valley Dive Rescue Team in MA as well as a Corporate Trainer for Dive Rescue International. Tom is the Executive Director for National Public Safety Solutions Inc., a nonprofit organization serving various public safety needs. He serves as the co-director for the Greater Lowell CISM Team and is a staff member at the On-Site Academy in Massachusetts, a residential treatment facility for public safety personnel dealing with challenges surrounding personal and work-related stress issues. Tom is a Faculty Instructor with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and is a certified trainer in a number of disciplines, including the “Grief Following Trauma” specialty. (Workshop PSD #3)

V I P s a n d Co nfe re n ce S p ea ke r s

Paul Hayden has an MSc in Fire Command and Management from the University of Central Lancashire, an MA in Management from Coventry University, is a Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers, and is currently mid way through an Honours Degree in law with the Open University.

On the 18th April 2005, Paul became the Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, UK. Paul joined West Midlands Fire Service in 1978. Working in the busy inner city area of this large metropolitan service, he gained experience at a wide range of operational incidents including both terrorist attacks and civil disturbances. He was seconded from West Midlands to the National Fire Service College in Gloucestershire in 1991, where he worked as a lecturer specializing in Operations and Fire Safety Engineering. He joined Suffolk Fire Service on promotion in 1993 and gained further promotions eventually becoming Assistant Chief Fire Officer (Technical). During this time he was a commander with the volunteer ship fire fighting team, a specialist helicopter borne team protecting the busy shipping lanes of the English Channel and southern North Sea. One of only 13 UK Officers selected for the Brigade Command Course in 1999, Paul spent nine months seconded to the Audit commission and working in the USA researching rescue service procurement. In 2002, Paul was appointed as Deputy Chief Officer in Norfolk, with responsibility for service Operations, Regulatory Fire Safety, Community Safety, Health and Safety and Training. In addition to his local department work, Paul has a number of national responsibilities on behalf of the UK Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA). Current appointments include National Director for the UK project to review systems of work and equipment standards for breathing apparatus and CBRN. He is also the Chair of the CFOA Inland Water Strategy Group, responsible for UK Swiftwater and flood response strategy. He represents CFOA on the UK Environment Agency Strategic Working Group and is an advisor to the Local Government Association on water matters. Paul has worked on strategic incident command issues with emergency management colleagues in the EU and with FRS, FEMA and DHS colleagues in the US. During the summer 2007 floods, Paul utilized this experience to establish the CFOA Flood Support Team, providing protection for 60m people across the UK and coordinating over 9000 water rescues. (Workshop Swift/Flood #5) 20

Steve Hudson is President of Pigeon Mountain

David Lane is a Fire, Water and Marine Safety

Industries, Inc., America’s leading manufacturer of life safety ropes. Mr. Hudson is also Deputy Director of Walker County Emergency Management Agency that operates a 21-station fire and rescue department and the county's 911 center. He is active on an ASTM standards committee and two NFPA committees, all of which are setting standards on technical rescue. He served on the NASAR Board of Directors for over nine years, with the National Cave Rescue Commission for over twenty-five years and is a founder and present board of directors member of the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians. (Workshops Tech #3-4)

Consultant and Film Producer, formerly a UK Senior Fire Officer and is the Managing Director (CEO) at ‘Lane, Jefferies & Associates Ltd’, a small specialist fire, water and marine safety consultancy. He is highly experienced, working within Europe and worldwide in all fire, water rescue and marine related matters including training resource provision and documentary film production for broadcast.

Robert J. Koester first joined the Appalachian Search & Rescue Conference in 1981. He has participated in hundreds of searches. He holds a Master of Science degree in biology (neurobiology) from the University of Virginia. He has contributed seminal research on lost person behavior, with emphasis on dementia, and created the International Search and Rescue Incident Database (ISRID). A type one incident commander and instructor for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and president of the Virginia Search and Rescue Council, Robert has also worked for the United States Coast Guard, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Park Service, and Federal Emergency Management Agency. He is the author of numerous books and articles on search and rescue. He is currently working on starting the International Journal of Search and Rescue. He has presented in the Australia, Canada, Iceland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and across the United States. (Workshop Gen/Mgt #1) Kenneth N. Laidlaw has been a practitioner of

Search and Rescue skills with ten different types of organizations over the last thirty years. His current background includes Red Cross Emergency Responder certification, NASAR SAR-Technician Evaluator status, National Cave Rescue Commission Instructor certification, Joel Hardin Sign Cutter (tracking) certification, Type II Wildland Firefighter qualification, SPRAT Rope Access Technician qualification, Hazardous Materials Operations certification, Confined Space Operations certification, Technical Rescue Technician qualification, MSHA Trained, Mountain Rescue Association qualified, public safety diver/tender qualification, amateur radio General license N6GFE, California Rescue Dog Association Mission Ready Support Person, Alameda County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue member, technical skills consultant for the Fire Department for the East Bay Regional Park District, and a retired seasonal Police Officer with that agency. (Workshop Tech #2-4)

(Workshop Swift/Flood #5) A. Lee Lang is the President of Advanced Biologicals and a member of Larimer County Search and Rescue, a SAR team located in Colorado. While attending graduate school, he worked as an EMT on a Paramedic ambulance and was also a member of the Southern Arizona Rescue Association, a SAR team operating out of Tucson, Arizona. Upon moving to Orange County, California Mr. Lang became a pay-call firefighter. He experienced the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, the Laguna Beach and Malibu firestorms. In 2002, Mr. Lang moved from San Diego, CA to Laramie, WY to perform research and start Advanced Biologicals. Mr. Lang has recently started to use his extensive research experience to study issues in the SAR community in an attempt to advance the field. His work has been presented in the Technical Rescue Journal as well as MRA conferences. (Workshop Gen/Mgt #2A) Ken Lesperance has been active in SAR since

1985. He has responded on hundreds of missions as a mantracker, dog handler, diver, water rescue technician, and “ground pounder.” He has extensive experience in SAR field supervision and has served in most General and Command Staff positions, including Incident Commander. Ken has taught HazMat, NIMS/ICS, SAR Management, FUNSAR, and many other SAR topics in multiple states and countries. He is an ISAR, FUNSAR, and MLPI Instructor and SARTECH Lead Evaluator for NASAR. Ken has a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration. He was a full time police officer in California and Washington State and served as a volunteer Firefighter/EMT for nine years. He served as the Hawaii State Urban Search and Rescue Coordinator for the last four years, taking the program from a concept to an operational system. Currently, he is Hawaii State Hazardous Materials Training Coordinator, Department of Homeland Security State Training Coordinator, and serves on the NASAR Board of Directors as Secretary.

(Workshop Govt/HLS/USAR #8) Dr. Kristine Lesperance has been active in Search

and Rescue since 1990. While her specialty is Search and Rescue Canines, she also has exten-

V I P s a n d Co nfe re n ce S p ea ke r s

sive experience as a Fire Department Emergency Medical Technician, Dive Team Member, and Ground Hasty Team Member. She has founded Search and Rescue Ground and Canine teams in multiple states and has served as a Master Canine Trainer and consultant for several SAR teams in multiple states and countries. Dr. Lesperance is a Lead Evaluator several canine evaluations including Human Remains Detection Land and Disaster, Trailing, Area Search (Air Scent), and Disaster Responder. She is an instructor for ISAR, FUNSAR, Managing the Lost Person Incident, and Incident Command System. Dr. Lesperance has published on Critical Incident Stress Management, various canine topics, and developing SAR in foreign countries. She has presented at numerous conferences and seminars on a variety of topics. Dr. Lesperance has a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree from California State University, a Masters of Counseling from St. Mary’s College of California, and a PhD in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University. As Chair of the Graduate Education Program at Argosy University’s Honolulu Campus she initiated Argosy’s doctoral programs on Guam and in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas.

(Workshop Govt/HLS/USAR #7) George Lewis is a retired Fairfax County, VA.

Firefighter. He spent 21 of his 26 years at the Great Falls station, which handled a significant number of water and rope rescues. George developed Fairfax County’s swiftwater program and provided training for it’s firefighters and VATF-1. He is also the founder and Capt. of the Warren County Swiftwater Rescue Team which was Virginia’s first State Response Team. George is an Instructor Trainer with Rescue 3 International and has been teaching with them since 1994. George also owns and operates Rescue 3 Virginia. (Workshop Swift/Flood #6) Cindy M. Matthews is currently the Director of Community Outreach for the West Metro Fire Protection District in Colorado. She has more than 20 years experience working in public relations, media relations, marketing and communication experience with private, public and nonprofit organizations. Her 11 years with the fire service has included several large scale disasters and crises, including assisting as a Public Information Officer during the Columbine Tragedy. Cindy coordinated local, national and international media coverage for the Pope’s visit to Denver in 1993 and continues to train emergency responders in how to deal with media. She has taught at the University of Colorado and the University of Denver and holds a Masters Degree in Communications/Media Relations from the University of Colorado.

Loui McCurley, a Colorado native, has specialized in rope rescue, rope access, and safety at height for over 20 years. Combining equipment and systems performance considerations with practical applications, Loui is a recognized consultant, instructor and author in the field of safety and rescue, and participates in the development of standards through ANSI, NFPA, ASTM and ISO.

A co-founder of both Alpine Center for Rescue Studies and the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians, two non-profit organizations dedicated to safety in work at height, Loui presently serves as Vice President of Pigeon Mountain Industries and as a Technical Specialist with Alpine Rescue Team. (Workshop

Tech #3-4) Mike McDonald has been active on Mountain Rescue Association teams and in the Civil Air Patrol since 1980 in Arizona, California and Colorado. He is on the Douglas County SAR Team and board of directors of Colorado Search and Rescue Board. Mike is an assistant CAP wing emergency services officer and state alerting officer. He has been with the ASTM F32 SAR standards committee since its inception and is currently the NASAR Standards Review Manager. (Govt/HLS/USAR #3) Charlie Miller has been a Firefighter for 15 years

and is currently a Fire Captain for the City of Ukiah FD. Charlie is certified to teach several California State Fire Marshal classes as well as all Rescue 3 International water and rope rescue courses through the Instructor Trainer level. He is a state level Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Train the Trainer instructor. Charlie also has an extensive background in all U.S.A.R. disciplines. Charlie has taught all over the world. Most recently he went to the Middle East and taught basic firefighting techniques to firefighters in the United Arab Emirates. (Workshop Swift/

Flood #1) Philip Miller has been with Prince William County VA Fire and Rescue since 1998. He is now a Rescue 3 Instructor after taking his first water rescue class in 1999 and being assigned to a station with water rescue responsibilities for 7 years. He is currently the training coordinator for the county water group as well as a fire fighter/medic working on a transport ALS unit. (Workshop Swift/Flood #3A)

with the Colorado SAR Board (CSRB) as a member of the board of directors and is the senior state SAR coordinator. His analysis of NASAR mission reports is a basis for lost person behavior data. (Govt/HLS/USAR #3) Fernando Moreira is a long time member of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Hasty Team and Washoe County Search & Rescue, Inc. in Nevada. He initially became interested in the art of man-tracking while serving in the Portuguese army in Angola. He has utilized his skill in tracking on a nearly daily basis for the more than 15 years that he has been involved with Search & Rescue. Fernando is a Nevada State P.O.S.T. certified investigative tracker and instructor. Fernando has been a certified tracking instructor in the State of Nevada since 1997. He also provides certified training for Mounted SAR man-tracking. Fernando has assisted local law enforcement officers in finding crucial evidence in several high-profile investigations and is considered an expert witness. (Govt/HLS/USAR

#5-6) Dr. Larry Myers holds a masters degree in zool-

ogy/ethology, a Ph.D. in neurophysiology, and a D.V.M., and is currently on the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University. He is also president of Myers & Associates, PC, a consulting and veterinary medical firm. He has done research on detector dogs of all types since 1982. He has served a consultant for detection problems for DOD, the State Department, the Treasury Department, FAA, Border Patrol, U.S. Customs, NASA, state and local law enforcement, among many others. He has also served as an expert witness for both prosecution and defense in hearings and trials across the U.S. Author of more than 50 papers, chapters, and reviews, his research has concentrated on behavior of the dog, behavior of the dog-handler team, training methods, sensory function, use for novel targets, and general effectiveness of dog-handler team programs. (Workshop

K9 #5-6)

Barry Mitchell has 38 years of SAR experience,

starting with the El Paso County Search and Rescue Team, located where this year’s conference is being held. He has been with Douglas County Search and Rescue Team, just to the north, for the past ten years. Barry is active

(Workshop Swift/Flood #9A) 21

V I P s a n d Co nfe re n ce S p ea ke r s

Robert Noziska currently is an Operator for

Faith Ortins is an accomplished diver with over 25

Howard Paul, of Alpine Rescue Team,

Headquarters/Special Operations Group for the United States Border Patrol. For the past 10 years, Agent Noziska has been assigned to the special operations unit known as BORSTAR (Border Search Trauma and Rescue). BORSTAR is a national search and rescue team with extensive training and experience in areas such as air operations, land navigation, technical rescue, and medical.

years of experience in the public safety and technical diving fields. As Vice President of DUI, she developed DUI’s innovative public safety training program on exposure protection and decontamination for public safety divers. DUI continues to expand its product offerings for public safety divers with its new decontamination solutions and systems. (Workshop PSD #2)

Evergreen, is the past president of the Colorado Search and Rescue Board and a new member of NASAR’s Board of Directors. He taught Managing the Search Function and Managing the Lost Person Incident for more than 10 years. Since 1985, he has held at least 13 elected and appointed positions at every SAR level; has coordinated eight major projects; has taught at 20 national and state SAR and EMS conferences. He has written legislation and standards, created typing for resources, edited emergency service periodicals, carried bodies, hauled rope, probed avalanche debris, created PSAR programs and taught Hug-A-tree presenters. Paul has received several awards including the NASAR State Award for Colorado, twice.

In addition, Agent Noziska founded and implemented the BORSTAR Canine Program for the United States Border Patrol in 2001. This is the only SAR Canine Program within the Border Patrol and is now being implemented on a nationwide basis. Agent Noziska is not only a certified SAR canine handler, but is also a SAR Canine Instructor. Agent Noziska and his canine partner Chelsea have been awarded the esteemed title of “Distinguished Experts in Tracking and Trailing.” Currently this is the only canine team in the Border Patrol with this distinctive title. Agent Noziska is involved with NASAR as a Lead Evaluator for the K-9 SAR Tech III, and is a Master Trainer for North American Police Work Dog Association. In addition, Agent Noziska has given presentations on numerous canine topics nationally strengthening existing SAR K-9 Teams. (Workshop K9

#1-2) Dan O’Connor is a NASAR MLPI instructor and editor of the second edition of Managing the Lost Person Incident. Dan became involved in Search & Rescue while training to be an Army Medevac pilot in Vietnam (call sign Dustoff 510). His very first airborne search was in 1971 for some fellow flight students and their instructor who crashed a Huey at night outside Fort Rucker, Alabama. Dan spent four years with Grand Canyon Helicopters flying scenic tours and as a National Park Service contract pilot, a stint which included numerous searches and rescues inside the Grand Canyon. A contributor to the CASIE search management software, Dan has operated the program on real and mock search scenarios. Dan holds a BA degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, a Masters degree in Public Administration from American International College, a Commercial Pilot-Instrument Airplane & Helicopter license and Advanced Ground Instructor certificate from the FAA, and serves as a director on the executive board of Northeast Wilderness Search And Rescue (NEWSAR). Professionally, Dan works as an energy forecaster modeling electric demand for the six New England states. (Workshop

Gen/Mgt #7)

Steve Orusa is a 22-year fire service veteran and is the Deputy Fire Chief for the Waukegan, Illinois Fire Department. Chief Orusa is the Director of the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists Response Team and Chairman of the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal Water Rescue Committee. He is the regional team leader for the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Division 4 & 5 Dive Rescue Team in Lake and McHenry Counties, Illinois - which serves a population of approximately one million people. Chief Orusa is also a Corporate Trainer for Dive Rescue International.

Chief Orusa has a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Administration and is nearing completion for a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management. He is a published author with his most recent work being “Dive Rescue Specialist: Operational Training for Public Safety Divers” which was published in September 2007. Chief Orusa is a frequently invited speaker on public safety leadership and development techniques. He has provided analysis on public safety diving for USA Today, Fire Chief Magazine, Fire Engineering Magazine, Dive Training Magazine, and has also appeared on MSNBC, FoxNews and CNN to provide expert analysis on dive rescue disaster response. (Workshop PSD #5) Paul O’Sullivan is the Managing Director of

Rescue 3 (UK). Paul is a highly experienced rescue trainer and outdoor educator and has delivered rescue classes in the UK, Europe, USA, South America and Asia. His rescue training experience is built upon many years of working and recreating in the outdoors. Paul holds high-level coaching and instructional qualifications in kayaking, rafting and mountaineering and has vast experience as an expedition kayaker, with numerous first descents of rivers throughout the world to his name. Paul is a qualified teacher, holds a Diploma in Health & Safety Management and is a Rescue 3 International Advanced Instructor Trainer.

(Workshop Swift/Flood #5)

(Workshop Gen/Mgt #9A, and SIG 7) Tom Peterson is the full time Aviation Emergency Services Coordinator for the State of Washington, Department of Transportation, Aviation Division. His duties include management and coordination of the Air Search and Rescue program as defined by Washington State law and to provide coordination of aviation assets through the state Emergency Operations Center during disaster or homeland security incidents.

Peterson has been a pilot since 1976 and possesses a Commercial Pilots license with Single Engine Land , Multi Engine Land and Instrument Ratings. Of the nearly 3000 hours of total flight time, almost 1200 of it is performing SAR missions in fixed wing aircraft in the Pacific Northwest. (Workshop Gen/Mgt #4) Bob Pro is an authority on Beacons, Messengers, Tracking Devices, and other Safety & Survival Products. He has held positions with ACR Electronics including: Marine Sales Manager North America and currently Outdoor Sales Manager North America.

(Govt/HLS/USAR #2B) Bill Ray is an active member of SARQuest

Search Specialists serving the SE Texas Coast. In this role he has acted in many roles, from Incident Commander to K-9 Handler and Flanker. Bill has responded to numerous incidents from small local searches to large incidents of national significance including 8 presidential declared disasters. Bill is a Certified ICS Curriculum Instructor and DHS Certified Instructor and regularly teaches ICS/NIMS to responders in SE Texas. (Workshop Gen/Mgt

#9B)

V I P s a n d Co nfe re n ce S p ea ke r s

Officer Eric Reed has worked with the Ohio

Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft for 8 years. He has overseen the statewide swiftwater rescue program and training since 2003. Officer Reed is a swiftwater rescue technician, and has responded to numerous flooding situations within Ohio and to Hurricane Katrina. Officer Reed graduated from The

Ohio State University and the Cuyahoga Community Collage Ranger Academy in 2000. He lives in Westerville, Ohio just outside Columbus. (Workshop Swift/Flood #9B) Monty Strange started his career with Oak Hill

Fire Department in 1977 and was hired by Austin Fire Department in 1980. He recently retired from AFD where he was last assigned to the Special Operations Battalion. He had been an instructor for special operations since 1997. He began working with ropes in 1984 and became involved with cave rescue operations in 1988, after a cave incident in the Oak Hill area. His first NCRC was in 1989 in San Saba, TX and he worked up to NCRC instructor in 1998. He is a Texas Commission on Fire Protection intermediate instructor, a Texas Dept. of Health instructor, and an instructor for Texas Rope Rescue Inc. He has been teaching fire fighters, EMT’s, cavers, and industrial fire brigade/emergency response teams since 1990. He enjoys teaching and working with students who are truly interested in learning and who enjoy the full educational experience - always be safe and above all enjoy and have a fun learning experience. (Workshop

Tech #3-4) Micki Trost has been a Life Safety Education

Specialist/PIO for West Metro Fire Rescue for 5 years. In this capacity, she coordinates the fire safety programs for schools/ businesses and serves as a victim advocate and spokesperson on emergency scenes. Trost has more than 15 years experience in volunteer management and outreach education services. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Communications from Regis University.

(Workshop Swift/Flood #9A) Liz Varnerin, Brian Sandifer, Kyle Schumaker and Matt Zacherle designed the HydroSpine during

the Fall 2007 semester in their senior industrial design studio at Virginia Tech. Liz, Brian, and Kyle recently graduated with Bachelors of Science in Industrial Design degrees. Matt is currently a senior in the industrial design program. After a round of successful testing in Great Falls, Virginia, the team was encouraged to apply for a patent and bring the HydroSpine to the market. With the help of Virginia Tech Intellectual Property, a patent is now pending on the HydroSpine and a licensor for the product is being sought. (Workshop Swift/Flood #3B)

DJ Walker is a Firefighter with the Austin TX Fire Department assigned to the Special Operations Division. His work duties include responding to all special rescue responses during his shift, including: cave, cliff, confined space, lost person search, swiftwater, trench collapse, structural collapse, and haz-mat. DJ is also a Rescue Specialist with the FEMA USAR team Texas Task Force One. He has worked as a rock climbing and caving guide since 2003 for a private high school in Austin. DJ is the South-Central Regional Coordinator for the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC), coordinating cave rescue resources and training for the 5 state region. He enjoys traveling throughout the US and Mexico hiking, caving, and rock climbing. DJ has been a student of rope rescue since 1998 and regularly attends rescue seminars and conferences around the country. He teaches rope rescue and other rope and medical related skills for various organizations. (Workshop Tech #1, 3-4) Chuck Wehrli is a retired Captain from the Naperville, IL Fire Department having served in the Fire Service for 34 years. He is a FEMA US&R Safety Officer with MOTF-1 and a Task Force Leader for the State US&R team in Illinois. He is a Board Member for State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance SUSAR. Chuck has lectured nationwide and taught at Firehouse Expo and FDIC. He has assisted in 3 IFSTA manuals and is contributor to Buddy Martinette’s Trench Rescue Manual and Vincent Dunn’s Command and Control of Fires and Emergencies book. He is a Disaster Assistant Employee with FEMA Region 5 and an Adjunct Instructor for the National Fire Academy. (Workshop Govt/HLS/USAR #4) Shawn Workman is currently associated with

Zodiac of North America’s Military and Professional Products Division. He acts as the Western States Training Academy Manager/ Primary Instructor and also serves as the Western States Customer Support Manager. Shawn was a Reconnaissance Marine for 20 years. He participated in operations in Somalia in support of multinational forces conducting multiple small boat operations. He also participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom from its outset in 2003 as well as a second tour in 2004. Shawn’s entire unit was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon and the Presidential Unit Citation for their actions during this conflict. Shawn was awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V”.

As a Marine, Shawn served as a Rifleman, Team Leader, Platoon Sergeant and as an Amphibious Reconnaissance Instructor. His last few years in the Corps were divided between duty in Iraq and serving stateside as his Battalions’ Diving and Amphibious Operations Chief. It was in this latter capacity that he was recognized for establishing training regimens for small boat operators and combatant swimmers/divers as well as coordinating and supervising all surface and sub-surface training for his and other units in Southern California. Affiliated with Zodiac immediately after his retirement from the Corps, Shawn has acted as the Zodiac Maritime Academy Manager/ Primary Instructor for the Western States (all areas west of the Mississippi). He also assumed duties as the Western States Customer Support Manager in February 2007. Shawn was among the many Zodiac Rescue Instructors who responded to New Orleans and provided boat operator support in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Shawn is a certified Instructor through the National Safe Boating Council and has recently completed a USCG approved 100 ton Masters course. He also teaches personal watercraft rescue on a pro bono basis with K38.

(Workshop Swift/Flood #4) Chris Young has been active in Search and

Rescue since 1981, managed searches since 1986, is the past reserve Captain for the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team and serves as chairman of the Bay Area Search and Rescue Council (BASARC). Chris is a member of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET), is an Instructor for the “Direction and Control of the Search Function Course” for the State of California Office of Emergency Services since 1989, an Instructor for the “Managing the Lost Person Incident” for the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR), he also teaches specialized topics in Search Management, including Search Management in the Urban Environment, and Investigation and Interviewing in SAR. Chris has also written, published and presented search management papers at NASAR conferences, the William Syrotuck Symposium on Search Theory and Practice and several State Search and Rescue conferences on the subject of Search Management in the Urban Environment. He is also co-author of the book “Urban Search – Manging Missing Person Searches in the Urban Environment”, published 2007 by dbS Publications. Additionally, Chris is a Level 1 law enforcement reserve with the Sheriff’s Dept and the City of Danville.

(Workshop Gen/Mgt #3)