David started in 1974 as a volunteer firefighter and is a life member with 45 years’ service, rising to the rank of Captain, serving as a driver training instructor, and was on several truck purchasing committees. In1975 he joined the US Air Force and served his time as a Crash Rescue Firefighter obtaining the rank of sergeant.

Since beginning his career, he has become a member of numerous organizations, including NYS Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Albany County Fire Advisory board, and Aircraft Rescue Firefighter working group (ARFFWG).

David Cook
Fire Chief
Albany Int’l Airport
Fire Department
dcook@albanyairport.com

(P) 518-242-2385
(C) 518-378-4865
(F)518-242-2620

Rural/Metro Fire Dept
Command Fire Chief – Specialty Fire Group
8140 Enclave Way, Unit 101
Sarasota, FL 34243
allen.ward@rmetro.com
614-206-6488

Illinois

Michael J Lopina is a 31 year fire service professional who currently serves as Commander of the ARFF Division for Lockport Township Fire Protection District. He has served as Commander since instituting the ARFF Division in 2006. He has been involved with ARFFWG since 2007 and advocates for departments with General Aviation and Regional airports not subject to FAA 139 to have access to quality ARFF training and procedures

Field Staff Instructor/ARFF Instructor
Illinois Fire Service Institute 
Captain/ARFF Commander (ret.)
Lockport Township (IL) Fire District

1-815-693-1090
ffedgroup@gmail.com 

Ronnie Tocci entered the fire service in 1985, became a career firefighter in 1992, and has been a member of the Dallas Fire Department since 2000.  He currently holds the rank of Fire Captain is assigned as the Training Coordinator for the department’s ARFF Program.  He functions as the Assistant ARFF Coordinator and is responsible for management of the ARFF training program.  This includes curriculum development and revision, training record management, compliance reporting, as well as administration of both the recurrent ARFF training program as well as the ARFF apparatus driver qualification program.  He also serves as a liaison between the fire department and the Department of Aviation regarding ARFF matters at Dallas Love Field (DAL), Dallas Executive Airport (RBD), and the Dallas CBD Vertiport (49T).

He holds the following certifications from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection: Fire Officer II, ARFF Firefighter – Master, Structural Firefighter – Master, Incident Safety Officer – Fire, Fire Investigator – Master, Driver/Operator – Pumper, Fire Service Instructor III – Master, and Field Examiner.  He is also licensed as a paramedic by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

He earned the following degrees: 1) B.A. Management – Southeastern Louisiana University (Hammond, Louisiana); 2) A.A.S – Fire Services Administration – Weatherford College (Weatherford, Texas); and 3) A.A.S. Fire Science and Safety Technology – Weatherford College (Weatherford, Texas).

Fire Captain, ARFF Training Coordinator
Dallas Fire Department
Phone – (214) 288-5077
Email – ronald.tocci@dallascityhall-tx.gov

Contact Info:
Captain John Cole
Training Division
Port of Seattle Fire Department
Cell: 206-437-2786
Cole.j2@portseattle.org

Captain Scott is currently the Fire and Life Safety Agency Representative – Liaison Officer for the Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA).  Captain Scott has served in this position over 10 years.

The following are examples of some of his duties:

• LAFD/LAWA Fire Department Agency Representative/Liaison Officer at emergency incidents.
• Responds to all major emergencies at LAWA.
• Fire Department Representative for the LAWA Department of Operations Center (DOC).
• Coordinates multi-agency training, fire protection and public events.
• Safety Officer

Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) duties:

• Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting certified – Captain II Scott often serves as the on-duty ARFF Commander at Fire Station 80 where he is in charge and responds to aircraft emergencies aboard ARFF 1.   (The ARFF apparatus is the big greenish-yellow 6 wheel drive fire trucks used to fight large aircraft fires).
• ARFF Working Group member – The Working Group serves to promote the science and improve the methods of aviation fire prevention and protection.
• ARFF NFPA Co-Chair – Assist with developing best practices for aircraft fire suppression, passenger and firefighter safety.

Prior Assignments:

Captain Scott’s previous assignments includes Westchester Fire Station 5.  He served in the capacity of Firefighter for over 3 years and as a Firefighter Emergency Incident Technician for nearly 6 years.  As a Firefighter Emergency Incident Technician he was part of the Battalion Command Team that was responsible for managing all fire stations from Venice to Westchester included LAWA fire stations and ARFF.  Captain Scott was promoted to Fire Captain I in 2006 where he would eventually come back to Westchester Fire Station 5 and server as Captain.

Captain Scott was born and raised in Los Angeles where he excelled in academics and athletics.  He is a people person that wanted to give back to his community.  He joined the Los Angeles Fire Department and dedicated his service to the citizens of Los Angeles.

Captain Scott has served the Westchester/LAWA community for nearly 20 years of his 30 plus year career with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Capt. Oscar Scott
LA Fire Dept.
200 N. Main St.
Los Angeles,  California  90012
213 – 305-2027
scottcru4@gmail.com

 I followed in my grandfather’s and father’s footsteps and became a volunteer firefighter in Sudbury Ontario in 1997. In 2001 I was given the opportunity to join the ARFF team at the Greater Sudbury Airport (CYSB). After 9 years at CYSB I moved my wife and 3 kids to the Region of Waterloo in 2010 to take on the position of Supervisor, Airport Emergency Services and Training at the Region of Waterloo International Airport (CYKF). Since being in Waterloo I have volunteered my services with the Township of North Dumfries Fire Department, where I currently hold the position of Chief Training Officer.

I am currently under contract with the Province of Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal & Emergency Management, Academic Standards and Evaluation department as a Lead Evaluator for NFPA testing for firefighters looking to enter the fire service or expand their accreditations.

I hold multiple IFSAC and Pro-Board accreditations through the Ontario Fire College as well as certifications from Canadian Airports Online College and Sault College in Airport Administration and Operations.

I have been a member of the ARFF Working Group since 2010 and have taken advantage of conferences, training and networking opportunities provided over the past 10 years.

Contact Information

Sean Carroll
Supervisor, Airport Emergency Services & Training
Region of Waterloo International Airport
1-4881 Fountain St. N
Breslau, On      N0B 1M0
CANADA

scarroll@regionofwaterloo.ca
Office   519-648-2256 ext. 8536
Cell  519-501-5870

569 Clintonville Rd.
North Haven, CT, USA, 06473
203-494-5409
paularff@aol.com 

Chirstchurch Int’l Airport
107a Major Hornbrook Rd.
Christchurch 8081
NEW ZEALAND
64-21990921
peter.moore@cial.co.nz

Lars Erlandsson has been in the ARFF industry since 1986. Before the ARFF experience Lars did serve in the Royal Swedish Army and in the Swedish Civil Defense. Presently he serve at Swedavia AB, Swedish Airports, as Manager Airport Academy and ARFF advisor to the company. He was a co-author of the Swedish ARFF handbooks and has experience of ARFF consulting and training internationally since the mid-90’s.  Lars served 6-years on the Board of Directors and three (3) of those as the Treasurer.

Lars Erlandsson
Manager Airport Academy
Swedavia AB Airport Academy
Stockholm-Arlanda   SWEDEN

Phone: 46-8797-6465
E-Mail: lars.erlandsson@swedavia.se

A member of the Fire Service industry since 2000, Captain Mitch Iles joined DFW International Airport in 2004. Captain Iles is the course coordinator and lead instructor for the Basic and Advanced ARFF courses, and all hands-on skills offered through the DFW Fire Training Research Center. Captain Iles also schedules and coordinates all research projects that are done at the FTRC. He is DFW Fire Department’s foam/PFAS subject matter expert. He currently holds a position on the AAAE PFAS workgroup, ACI/AAAE/NFPA Alternative Firefighting Agent Expert Advisory Group, and ARFFWG PFAS workgroup. He has certifications with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as an Advanced Aircraft Rescue Firefighter, Advanced Structural Firefighter, HazMat Technician, Training Facility Instructor, and is an EMT. Captain Iles is a front-line supervisor bringing field experience into the classroom for all students.

Mitch Iles
Captain
Public Safety

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
1530 W. 27^th St.
DFW Airport, TX  75261-9428

T (972) 973 8457
M (817) 729 3843
miles@dfwairport.com 
www.dfwairport.com/firetraining

 I started working at Ward Diesel Filter Systems in April of 2007 as Vice President and since have purchased the company along with several other manufacturing companies starting in 2013.  Ward Diesel is very active in many advocacy aspects within the fire industry and local, state and national government on the health and safety concerns for the Fire and EMS Industry.

 As President and Owner of Ward Diesel Filter Systems I help coordinate several health and safety efforts across the US within the Fire/EMS Industry.  My goal is to drive awareness of the extreme harmful issues facing todays Firefighter and EMS Personnel. 

 I am currently involved in many Fire/EMS Industry Organizations, Committees and events.  Here are a few of the key Organizations:

• NFPA 1585 Technical Committee
• ARFF Working Group – Section 13 Section Manager
• ARFF Working Group – Health & Safety Sponsor/Committee
• VCOS Cancer Committee Sponsor Member (R & D, Marketing and Committee Strategy)
• VCOS – Assists in the coordination of all sponsors for VCOS Symposium
• VCOS West – Key Sponsor – one of the first sponsor initiating the program
• NVFC – Sponsor Member
• Lavender Ribbon Report – 11 Best Practices for Firefighter Cancer Prevention Chair, Author and Steering Committee Member
• IAFC – Current Member as a Health & Safety Products Manufacturer
• IAFC – FSTAR Health & Cancer 360 – Get Checked Campaign Key Supporter
• Metropolitan Fire Chiefs – Gold Level Sponsor
• FAMA – Current Member as a Health & Safety Products Manufacturer of equipment for emission systems within apparatus

• FAMA – Technical Committees for both Chassis and ARFF
• FAMA – Government Affairs Committee Member
• Fire Service Conference and Trade Event Sponsors – Participate in over 70 Fire Chief Conferences, Seminars and Trade Events annually

 In addition to Ward Diesel we have a family of companies located at BEST Corporate Park (formerly the Schweizer/Sikorsky Aircraft Manufacturing Facility) in Horseheads, NY.  Our other companies added over the last several years are Ward Apparatus, Ward Clean Air Products, Filter Cleaner, EL Manufacturing, Sealmaster Clamps, BOSS Security & Automation, and BEST Corporate Park.

 I look forward to having meaningful dialog on how we can make an impact within the fire service to mitigate the risk of exposure to carcinogens and other toxic conditions.

Scott H. Beecher
President/Owner
Ward Diesel Filter Systems
607-796-0149
Scott.Beecher@warddiesel.com
www.warddiesel.com