NIPSTA Firefighter Academy

Instructors

Fire Academy Director

Drew Smith, Deputy Chief

Prospect Heights Fire Protection District, 32 years

• Executive Director: MABAS 3 Technical Rescue
• Committee Chairman: MABAS Statewide Technical Rescue Committee
• Adjunct Instructor: Oakton Community College

Fire Academy Coordinators

Scott Exo, Battalion Chief

Morton Grove Fire Department, 17 years

• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3
• Fire Instructor: MABAS 27
• Fire Instructor: Prairie State College

Tom Gaertner, Captain

Broadview Fire Department, 28 years

• Task Force Leader, Illinois Urban Search & Rescue (IL-TF-1)
• Technical Rescue Specialist: MABAS 20
• Firefighter: U.S.A.F. (ret.)

Ken Koerber, Battalion Chief

Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District, 21 years

• Rescue Manager: Illinois Urban Search & Rescue (IL-TF-1)
• Technical Rescue Specialist: MABAS 3
• Structural Collapse Instructor: Illinois Fire Service Institute
• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3

Fire Academy Instructors

Steve Ehas, Lieutenant

Des Plaines Fire Department, 24 years

• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3
• Task Force Safety Officer: Illinois Urban Search & Rescue (IL-TF-1)
• Technical Rescue Specialist: MABAS 3

Sam Foster, Firefighter (Physical Fitness Program Manager)

Des Plaines Fire Department, 7 years

• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3
• PEER Fitness Instructor

Mike Fox, District Chief (Fire Service Vehicle Operator Program Manager)

North Maine Fire Protection District, 23 years

• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3

Jim Hall, Lieutenant

Des Plaines Fire Department, 23 years

• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3
• Technical Rescue Specialist: MABAS 1

Kurt Harms, Lieutenant (Hose Program Manager)

Skokie Fire Department, 27 years

• Technical Rescue Specialist: MABAS 3
• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3

Brandon Hatch, Engineer

Des Plaines Fire Department

Ryan Hughes, Firefighter

Highland Park Fire Department

Don Kaderabek, Lieutenant

Niles Fire Department, 25 years

• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3
• Fire Officer Instructor: NIPSTA/SUFD

Thom Kannelos, Firefighter/Engineer

Northbrook Fire Department, 14 years

• Hazardous Materials Specialist: MABAS 3
• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3

Dennis Kennedy, Firefighter

Morton Grove Fire Department

• Rescue Specialist: Illinois Urban Search & Rescue (IL-TF-1)
• Technical Rescue Specialist: MABAS 3

Joe Klemm, Firefighter

Northbrook Fire Department

Minas Klikas, Firefighter

Des Plaines Fire Department

Joe Knebl, Firefighter (Physical Fitness Program Manager)

Northbrook Fire Department, 8 years

• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3

Scott Korona, Firefighter

Des Plaines Fire Department, 13 years

• Hazardous Materials Specialist: MABAS 3

Glenn Kosieniak (Hazardous Materials Program Manager)

Bedford Park Fire Department, 20 years

• Hazardous Materials Specialist: MABAS 21
• Hazardous Materials Instructor: NIPSTA/Illinois Fire Service Institute
• Fire Investigator: Bedford Park F.D.

Zeke Kuzmanovich, Firefighter

Park Ridge Fire Department

Al Lermer, Captain

Evanston Fire Department

• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3

Tom Lewis, Firefighter

Des Plaines Fire Department, 24 years

• Technical Rescue Specialist: MABAS 3
• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3

Jim Liebach, Firefighter (SCBA Program/Public Education Program Manager)

Niles Fire Department

• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3
• Technical Rescue Specialist: MABAS 3

Pat Maloney, Captain

Chicago Fire Department

• Search Manager: Illinois Urban Search & Rescue (IL-TF-1)
• Structural Collapse Instructor: Illinois Fire Service Institute

Jered Milton, Firefighter (Physical Fitness Program Manager)

Des Plaines Fire Department, 6 years

• PEER Fitness Trainer

Ron Mortiz, Captain (Prop Construction Manager)

Skokie Fire Department

• Live Fire Instructor: Illinois Fire Service Institute
• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3
• Fire Instructor: McHenry County College

Ryan Murphy, Firefighter

Northbrook Fire Department, 9 years

• Rescue Specialist: Illinois Urban Search & Rescue (IL-TF-1)
• Technical Rescue Specialist: MABAS 3
• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3

Scott Nacheman, Structural Specialist (Building Construction Program Manager)

Northbrook Fire Department

• Forensic Engineer/Architect: Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.
• Structures Specialist: MABAS 3 Technical Rescue
• Structures Specialist: DHS/FEMA US&R Incident Support Team
• Structures Specialist: DHS/FEMA Indiana Urban Search & Rescue (I-TF-1)
• Structures Specialist: Illinois Urban Search & Rescue (IL-TF-1)

Dave Nellesson, Firefighter

Skokie Fire Department

• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3

Mark Oeltgen, Battalion Chief

Prospect Heights Fire Protection District

Will Paces, Firefighter (Rope Program Manager)

Morton Grove Fire Department, 8 years

• Rescue Specialist: Illinois Urban Search & Rescue (IL-TF-1)
• Technical Rescue Specialist: MABAS 3
• Rope Rescue Coordinator: NIPSTA
• Structural Collapse Coordinator: NIPSTA

Steve Perrino, Captain

Evanston Fire Department

• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3

Bill Peterson, Firefighter (SCBA Program Manager)

Park Ridge Fire Department

• Rescue Specialist: Illinois Urban Search & Rescue (IL-TF-1)
• Technical Rescue Training Coordinator: MABAS 3
• Instructor: START Group
• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3
• Confined Space Coordinator: NIPSTA
• Trench Rescue Coordinator: NIPSTA

Frank Rodgers, Battalion Chief

Morton Grove Fire Department

Hank Sajovic, Lieutenant

Skokie Fire Department

Pat Schey, Lieutenant (Prop Construction Manager)

Morton Grove Fire Department, 26 years

• Search Team Manager: Illinois Urban Search & Rescue (IL-TF-1)
• Technical Rescue Specialist: MABAS 3
• Structural Collapse Instructor: Illinois Fire Service Institute
• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3

Tim Smeltzer, Captain (Maintenance Program Manager)

Northbrook Fire Department, 21 years

• Co-Chair: MABAS Water Rescue Committee
• Water Rescue Coordinator: MABAS 3
• Fire Instructor: MABAS 3

Dave Traiforos, Chief (ret.)

Franklin Park Fire Department