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Dan Rogers joined the Witt Volunteer Fire Department in 2005 as a third-generation firefighter. Working his way up through the ranks, Rogers spent six years as captain before being elected assistant fire chief. Rogers writes first responder grants in his spare time, and has accrued more than $3 million in firefighting assets for communities. Rogers is employed full time as an Operator for Phillips 66 Refinery, where he is a member of their Emergency Response Team fire crew, rope rescue team and medical team.

Chris Schroeder is a driver/engineer in a large suburban department in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He has worked in the fire service for 10 years and as a paramedic for 20 years. In addition to serving as an engineer, Schroeder is a hazmat technician and holds multiple rescue specialist certifications.

Chris Simpson has 17 years of firefighter and rescue experience, both volunteer and career. Simpson volunteered for 10 years before becoming a career firefighter with Harrisburg (Pa.) Bureau of Fire, working in the Allison Hill section of the city. He later joined the Philadelphia Fire Department where he is currently a firefighter assigned to Ladder 19/HAZMAT 1. Prior to his current assignment, Simpson worked on an engine in West Philadelphia. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University prior to seeking firefighting as a career. Simpson is currently enrolled in a master’s of emergency management program through Millersville University. Simpson is trained in firefighting, medical, hazmat, plus vehicle, confined space, rope, water, ice, trench and structural collapse rescue.

Kyle Kuehmichel has a master’s degree in fire service and emergency management leadership. He has been working as an EMT and paramedic since 2009 in both a rural and urban setting with a variety of experience in ground transport EMS as well as flight service. Kuehmichel was also a volunteer firefighter for Boone County Fire Protection District in central Missouri for five years. He currently works as the EMS coordinator for Union College’s International Rescue and Relief Program as well as a volunteer firefighter/paramedic with Southeast Fire and Rescue.

Bradley M. Pinsky is an attorney with Pinsky Law Group, representing approximately 500 first response agencies in New York. He is a first responder with over 30 years of experience and had served as the fire chief of his combination fire department for nearly four years. Pinsky lectures throughout the country on topics important to first responders.

Andrea Hall is a fire captain for South Fulton County (Georgia) Fire Rescue and president of IAFF Local 3920. In 1993, Captain Hall became the first female firefighter hired with the Albany (Georgia) Fire Department, and in 2004 became the first African American woman to be promoted to captain at Fulton County Fire Rescue. Hall has also served in other capacities – CEO, chair of the board and licensed EMT – with multiple first responder agencies, and currently serves as a mentor, instructor and guest motivational speaker. Hall has received several awards and accolades during her career, including city and county proclamations, lifesaving and achievement awards. She serves as a member or appointed leader in various professional and community organizations, including the International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Society of Fire Service Instructors, International City Managers Association, Women in Fire, and Fire Department Safety Officers Association. In January 2021, Hall lead the Pledge of Allegiance during the Presidential Inauguration of Joe Biden.

Mark McCabe is a 30-year member of the fire service with experience in fire suppression, hazardous materials, fire prevention and fire instruction. Since 1993, he has been a fire instructor who teaches in all fire service subjects. McCabe specializes in the instruction of technical rescue and currently is the coordinator of Technical Rescue for the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA). As a current team leader of the Southeastern Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team, he responds to technical rescue incidents within the commonwealth of Massachusetts. For 24 years, McCabe was a rescue specialist and squad officer with FEMA’s Massachusetts Urban Search and Rescue team, having been deployed for incidents from natural disasters to the World Trade Center on 9/11. He is a certified Rescue Technician, Hazardous Materials Technician and EMT, and he holds numerous professional career certifications. McCabe earned his bachelor’s degree in fire science in 2017 and his master’s degree in public administration in 2018, both from Anna Maria College, and completed the Chief Fire Officer Training Program at the University of Massachusetts Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management in 2019 at the MFA.

Mary VanHaute is a consultant, speaker and trainer with St. Petersburg (Florida) College’s Center for Public Safety Innovation. She developed the college’s firefighter suicide prevention training. VanHaute is also a master trainer for the QPR Institute in Spokane, Washington, and serves on the State of Florida’s First Responders Suicide Deterrence Task Force. She is the author of “Public Safety Suicide: The Human Dimension.”

Battalion Chief William “Wes” Ward served as the director of EMS for the Center Point Fire District in central Alabama. Ward retired from the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service in 2014 as a fire captain. He currently serves as a part-time EMS instructor at Jefferson State Community College where he has worked since 2007. Also, Ward serves as the administrator for Alabama EMS Challenge, which is an EMS continuing education initiative sponsored by the Alabama Fire College that brings physician lectures to EMS providers free of charge. Ward is an Alabama representative for NREMT, and he has volunteered for multiple NREMT committees. He is a member of the IAFC and is active in the Central Alabama Fire Chiefs’ Association. Ward holds a bachelor’s degree from Athens State University and a master of public administration from Troy University. He is currently in progression in the Troy University Global Leadership Ph.D. Program.

Jonathan M. Westendorf (OFC) served the City of Franklin (Ohio) as chief for 20 years before transitioning to Safety Director and City Manager. Westendorf holds a master’s of public administration from the University of Southern California and is a doctoral candidate through West Chester University. An active member of the Ohio Fire Chief’s Association, Westendorf has served on the Publications Committee, past chair of the Legislative Committee, founder of the Policy Committee, and Past President of the OFCA. Connect with Westendorf on LinkedIn.