Schools in the Northeast prepare students for some of the most elite jobs in the nation, including the renowned New York City Fire Department. These instructors have proven to be the very best. Each has made our list of top instructors in the region for their high ranking, rank, level of education, and more.
| PHOTO | PROFESSOR | SCHOOL | BIO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Piskura | Connecticut Fire Academy | Piskura, Director of Training at the Connecticut Fire Academy, began his career as a volunteer firefighter with the Beaver Brook Fire Department in Danbury. He previously taught at Metropolitan State University where he directed the Fire and Emergency Medical library collection. | |
| Allen Coen | Lakes Region Community College | Coen is Associate Professor and Department Chair – Fire Technologies at Lakes Region Community College. He facilitated the admission of the first European student into the school that is considered the United States' second-largest fire technology program. | |
| Armand F. Guzzi Jr. | Monmouth County Fire Academy | Guzzi is the Fire Academy Director. Appointed firefighter in 1993, he has received three unit citations and the Merit 2nd Class Exceptional Duty valor award with the Long Branch Fire Department. | |
| Bruce Trego | Pennsylvania State Fire Academy | Assistant Administrator at Office of the State Fire Commissioner, Trego oversees direction for Pennsylvania's emergency services training programs. He completed the program at the Emergency Management Institute. | |
| C. Crawford Mechem | The Philadelphia Fire Department | Dr. Mechen serves as Philadelphia Regional EMS Medical Director. He has also been EMS Medical Director for the Philadelphia Fire Department since 1998. | |
| Dave Walsh | Dutchess Community College | Program Chair of the DCC Fire Science program, Walsh began his career as a volunteer firefighter in 1971. He has been an instructor for the New York Emergency Management Office and does regular podcasts on training issues. | |
| Ed Irving | Suffolk County Fire Academy | Deputy Chief Irving received the Al Nemecek Award for his service in training. In his 13 years with the academy, he has taught Heavy Rescue, Hazardous Materials Response, and Technical Rescue. | |
| Frank Hammond | Southern Maine Community College | Fire Training Program Manager Hammond has been with the college's Maine Fire Service Institute for 12 years. He has 29 years' experience as a fire service manager. | |
| John Devlin | The Philadelphia Fire Department | Deputy Commissioner Devlin joined the Philadelphia Fire Department in 1973. He has taught at the Philadelphia Fire Academy and in the Officer Development Program. | |
| John M. Best | John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York | Best is a member of the National Fire Protection Association Technical Committee on Fire Service Training and an online instructor for the college. He previously served as Fire Chief of the Reedy Creek Improvement District in Florida. | |
| Kevin Beamon | Passaic County Community College | Captain Beamon is EMT Program Coordinator of the Passaic County Public Safety Academy at Passaic County Community College. He served with the Passaic County Sheriff's Department for 23 years. | |
| Nelson C. Dunston | Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, University of New Haven | Dunston is Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Fire Protection Engineering at the Department of Fire Science and Professional Studies. His focus is on human behavior in fires, fire toxicology, and fire protection engineering. | |
| Perry Plummer | New Hampshire Department of Safety. | Plummer oversees the New Hampshire Fire Academy in Concord, and is in charge of curriculum and training at the Bureau of Emergency Medical Service. He began service as a firefighter for the City of Dover in 1986 where he is currently Acting Director of the Division of Homeland Security and | |
| Robert E. Massicotte | Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice & Forensic Sciences, University of New Haven | Massicotte is Practitioner in Residence at the Department of Fire Science & Professional Studies. He serves as Executive Fire Officer at the National Fire Academy. | |
| Victor Herbert | John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York | Dr. Herbert previously served the Dean of Instruction for the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). He is distinguished lecturer in the Department of Protection Management of John Jay College, City University of New York. |