Mickey Farrell is a third-generation firefighter with 30 years of experience currently serving as a lieutenant in the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY). He has spent the last 24 years working for the FDNY and is also an instructor at their fire academy. Additionally, he is the founder and author of Top Floor Tactics, an Instagram based training network, and hosts the View from The Top Floor Podcast.

Eric Allen is the creator of the FAST Board and Co-founder of FAST Rescue Solutions, LLC. Eric began his career in firefighting in the United States Navy. In 1996, after honorable discharge, he joined the Philadelphia Fire Dept. In 2004 Eric joined Philadelphia’s Special Operations and was assigned to Squad 47. Other accomplishments include being a member of PATF 1 as a Rescue Specialist, Technical Search Specialist and Technical Search Manager Specialist. In his many years as a firefighter, Eric repeatedly saw firsthand the urgency of downed firefighters in confined spaces, and the dangers faced when their evacuations took too long to complete. He and his fellow firefighters have been witnesses to the painful losses of other firefighters far too often. Eric knew there had to be a better way, something needed to be done. After many different approaches to the problem Eric realized there was a simple solution that combines emergency evacuation with technical rope rescue. In 2015, after extensive research and testing, Eric developed the FAST Board, a rescue board that is a complete rapid intervention system. The FAST Board has proven to be a decidedly far superior way of accomplishing confined space evacuations. Eric’s concept gives rapid intervention teams a tool that makes evacuations from confined spaces fast, safe, and a lot more manageable.

Dave, better known by most as "Da Da" has over 25 years of experience in the fire service joining the Croton-on-Hudson, NY Volunteer Fire Department in 2000. In 2007, Dave was hired by the New York City Fire Department. He would begin his career in Engine 74, transferring to Engine 63 then later Ladder 39. Currently, Dave is assigned to Squad Company 61 in the Bronx. He has received numerous meritorious awards and unit citations throughout his career. He holds many national certifications such Fire Service Instructor, Fire Officer, Hazardous Materials Technician 2, along with multiple certificates in numerous technical disciplines. Dave is currently the Captain of Chemical Engine Co. #1 in the Croton Fire Department and also serves as a Department Training Officer and a FASTeam Leader.

With 26 years in the Rhode Island Fire Service currently serving the Town of Tiverton Rhode Island. His career service started in the town of Coventry in 2003 achieving the rank of Lieutenant before transferring to Portsmouth FD in 2021. After his promotion to Lieutenant in 2017, achieved a collateral duty assignment to the Coventry/West Warwick Police Regional SWAT Team. He served as the team medical officer and developed the Rescue Task Force Training. Additionally, he was the President of Coventry Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3372. Additional past service includes: Rhode Island School of Design Department of Public Safety, East Coast Protective Services Newport RI, Warren RI Volunteer, Captain of HMVFC Barrington RI, and Fire Chief for the Nasonville Fire District of Burrillville RI. During his service as Chief of NFD he was an active member of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs’ Mutual Aid Association. He worked to establish several initiatives for firefighter health & safety, RIT training & response. Working with the best from the region he established a training and consulting firm, OSA Group LLC, also known as One Step Ahead Consulting. Collaborating with Truck Company Manifesto, First Aid Tactics and East Coast Training Consultants. We are leaders in several projects around Southern New England including Active Shooter Response for Fire/EMS. Since 2017 Teaming up with RI DOT, Traffic Options LLC, Drive Engineering, and RI Municipal Police Academy to develop the online learning platform of the TIMS training. One Step Ahead

Jeff is both a Career and Volunteer Fireman with collectively 24 years of experi-ence. He started his career with the Air National Guard as a Crash-Rescue Firefighter where he served for 17 years. He was also a member of Volunteer Hose Co. #2 of the West Haverstraw Volunteer Fire Department (Rockland County, NY for 14 years. Jeff's professional career began in 2002 when he was hired as a NYS FF for the DMNA where he worked for a little over 4 years before being hired with the FDNY. He was assigned to Ladder Co. 39 in the North Bronx for 12 years later becoming an instructor for the Fire Academy teaching Probie School. Currently he is assigned to Squad 61 located in the North Bronx and is also a member of the FDNY Special Operations Command. Jeff also teaches at the Rockland Counties Fire Training Center and has been working with the NYS Fire Chiefs Association since 2015 aiding in their Training Series.

Clyde Gordon is a District Chief with the City of Houston Fire Department. He has over 36 years as a proven leader in the fire service and 30 years within the Houston Fire Department. Chief Gordon offers a unique blend of leadership, vision, and knowledge. He has a reputation for a strong work ethic, exceptional fire ground operations and management, and building uncompromising integrity and responsibility in a crew. Chief Gordon believes in continuous improvement of fire ground skills and operations through regular and consistent training. He is known for his teaching through honest and personal first-hand experience. Clyde spent over 10 years as an instructor with Lone Star College in Cypress, Texas.

Owner and operator of Truck Co. Manifesto (TCM), he established TCM in early 2020 to provide Truck Co. operations training and prop/tool design and manufacture. Chris has served in the Rhode Island fire service since 1993, starting in the town of Lincoln. He served the Rescue Service achieving the rank of Lieutenant. In 2003, Chris left Lincoln for the City of Central Falls, he currently serves as the Battalion Chief for the Second Battalion. He worked on different companies but found the truck was his true calling. During this time, he also served as a Rescue Specialist and Squad Leader for Rhode Island’s Urban Search & Rescue - Task Force. Chris became a company officer, then an instructor that oversaw the Central Falls Fire Academy as its Training Officer. His assignment prior to Battalion Chief was the Captain on Ladder 1 “The Sparkle City Truck “. In 2015, Chris became a Fire/Arson Investigator and Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal in Rhode Island. Attending the University of Rhode Island, he received certification in the Basic Criminal Investigation (BCI) program. He currently serves on the Rhode Island IAAI executive committee and teaches fire behavior for the organization. Since 2014 to date he serves as a Instructor/Coordinator for a multitude of Rhode Island Fire Academy including the Municipal Fire Academy, Technical Rescue Program, Aerial Operator, NFPA 1021 Company Officer, 1041-20, R.I.T. Program, and the 2006 Auto Extrication Program. During this time, he also started program development and hosted the first Narragansett Fire Department Safety Conference. He has also developed several programs of his own, including Street Smart Forceable Entry, Dynamic Entry for SWAT, Short Staffing Ground Ladders course, Advanced Auto Extrication for Modern Vehicles Including Electric and Alternative Fuel, Saws for the Street, Firefighter Survival/RIT & Mayday, Field Force Extrication, Lithium Ion Batteries and How They Affect Our Industry, Through the Lock Entry to name a few. Chris is a member of several fire service societies and committees but found his home when he became a member of the New England F.O.O.L.s in 2020. His commitment to excellence in the fire service and the fire education arena makes him not only a teacher, but a student of the game as well. “You can’t train enough for a job that can kill you!”

Chief Jutras is a 41year veteran of the fire service beginning his career as a volunteer with the Union District of South Kingstown, RI. He joined the Providence Fire Department in 1988, serving as a firefighter and fire officer in many of the department’s busy companies. Chief Jutras retired in 2023 rising to the rank of Deputy Assistance Chief, as the D Group shift commander. During his time as a chief officer, Chief Jutras served as an incident commander for everyday events to large scale multiple agency incidents. In addition to his emergency response duties, Chief Jutras was responsible for the training of newly promoted fire officers as the Promotional School Coordinator and Instructor. Chief Jutras is also a recognized fire service presenter, having provided training for fire departments and safety conferences across the country. Chief Jutras has a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science and Natural Resources. He is a National Fire Protection Association Pro Board Certified Fire Officer, Fire Service Instructor, and Incident Safety Officer. He is an instructor for the Rhode Island Municipal Fire Academy.

Jim started in the fire service in 1989 in his home state of Pennsylvania. He continued that passion while attending the University of Maryland serving with the Prince Georges County Fire Department (Hyattsville Co. #1). He would be appointed to the Washington, DC Fire Department in 2001. Jim would work in Engine 2 in Chinatown, soon after transferring to Truck 6 in Columbia Heights. In August 2003, Jim would head north being hired with the FDNY. He was assigned to Engine 45 in the West Farms section of the Bronx out of Probie School later transferring to Ladder Company 147 in Flatbush Brooklyn in February 2006. In August 2014, Lee transferred to Rescue 1 in Manhattan where he would participate in many notable rescue opera-tions, one of which was the Miracle on 93rd Street 6th Alarm on October 27, 2016. Captain Lee was named the 2017 Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award recipient for his actions taken in a life saving rope rescue that morning at FDIC 2017. Jim is now currently the rank of Captain assigned to Queens Boro Command as a Covering Officer.

Dan MacAuley began his fire service career within the Coast Guard, and as a call firefighter on Nantucket, MA and volunteer with the Christiana Fire Company in Delaware. In 2012, he joined the Boston Fire Department and was assigned to Ladder Co.6 in the Dorchester section of the city. He has taught at FDIC, Heavy Rescue Conference, Wichita HOT as well as many local FOOLS events. Dan is a member of MATF-1, the Boston Fire Department Honor Guard, and The New England FOOLS. You will find both tips and tricks, as well as training opportunities, on his Instagram page “Alarm of Fire”.

Josh's passion has been the fire department for the past 24 years. His fire service career began in 2001 with the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department in Westchester, NY. In 2008, Josh was hired by New York Presbyterian Hospital and worked 911 EMS in Manhattan and the Bronx. Josh was then hired by the Washington, DC Fire Department. He was initially assigned to Engine 2 in the Chinatown area of the city. He then transferred to one of the busiest companies in the city; 32 Engine in Southeast DC. While working in DC, he also was an active volunteer with Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department in Prince George's County, MD. Josh always wanted to return to a busy, urban fire department and in 2014 he was hired by the City of New Haven, CT. Josh was assigned to Engine 6 in the Dixwell/Newhallville section of the city. He then was assigned to Truck 4. Following this assignment, he transferred to Squad 1 which serviced the east side of the city. In 2019, Josh was assigned to Rescue 1 where he is now an assigned driver on the 1st di-vision. In 2025, Josh was named Fireman of the Year in New Haven. Josh holds many certifications in many disciplines and he has presented at FDIC. Additionally, Josh has been published in Fire Engineering and was a contributing author to the book "Command Presence."

A 2nd generation firefighter, Matthew Paglione’s fire service journey began in 1994 as a Jr. firefighter with the Hightstown Engine Company in NJ. While earning his AS in Fire Science at Colorado Mountain College, he worked as a student-resident firefighter with the Eagle River Fire Protection District in Avon, CO. In 2001 he returned back east working per-diem with the Robbinsville Fire Department. In August of 2001, Matthew began his tenure with FDNY as an EMT and was sworn in as a New York City firefighter in 2003. Matthew began his FDNY career on E221 and E46 before transferring to his current assigned on 27 Truck in the Bronx. Matthew has taught across the country at FDIC, Joey D, and Wichita HOT, and also runs his own training page; Boogie Down Truckwork. An avid hockey player who is a member of the What Exit Fools, he believes that preparation directly affects performance.

Mike collectively has 18 years of both volunteer and career fire service experience. He is a certified state instructor and holds several specialized certifications, including Structural Collapse Technician, Swift water Technician, and Hazardous Material Technician. Michael's experience includes serving as a Rescue Technician on the Connecticut Urban Search and Rescue Team, a Lead Instructor at the Barnstable Fire Academy in Massachusetts, as well as teaching Shipboard Firefighting for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. In addition to his firefighting career, he is a 17-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps Reserves, where he serves as a Motor Transport Officer. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Engineering/Administration, a Masters of Business Ad-ministration, and a Master of Science in Applied Analytics from Syracuse University.

Jason Rivera is a 31-year veteran of the fire service and has served in career and volunteer departments. He retired as the Captain of Rescue 1/Acting Deputy Chief for the Stamford (CT) Fire Department and is currently a Firefighter for the New Haven (CT) Fire Department assigned to the Special Operations firehouse. He is a Lieutenant and past Chief of the Newtown (CT) Hook and Ladder Fire Company, a Firefighter in Christiana (DE) and a Rescue Specialist with the FEMA USAR team MA-TF1. Jason joined the FAST tribe in 2017 and has been covering Connecticut and parts of NY for sales and training. Jason is a ProBoard certified Fire Service Instructor Level 3, has presented at FDIC International since 2017, and taught across the country and internationally. Jason is the owner of Tactical Resource Fire Training LLC, a fire service training company focusing on fireground and rescue company disciplines as well as special operations.

Steve has been in the fire service for 33 years, the last 29 of which has been with the Columbus Ohio Division of Fire. Steve currently serves as the Lieutenant on Engine Company 18 in the South Linden neighborhood of Columbus. Steve has been a classroom instructor at FDIC for the past several years teaching engine company operations. Additionally, Steve is the lead instructor of the FDIC HOT program Stretching for Success. Steve is an instructor for County Fire Tactics and has taught engine company tactics nationally. He has also instructed at the High-Rise Operations Conference and Command Officers Bootcamp, Water on the Fire conference all in Pensacola Beach, Florida. For the past 26 years Steve has also been a state certified Fire Safety instructor. He is also a past member of the State of Ohio Fire Training Committee.

AB Turenne is a 27-year veteran of the fire service and is currently the Captain of Training and Safety with a career department in Middlesex County Connecticut. As a Certified Level III Fire Service Instructor, AB's training curriculum has proven to be conducive with the operational needs of those he teaches and in turn has improved the human capital knowledge of many. A graduate from the Master of Public Administration program at Anna Maria College, AB continues his efforts with training and education by contributing to Fire Engineering and is the Director of Operations for Hops & Halligans which organizes and promotes fire service training events throughout New England based breweries. In August of 2024, AB published his first book titled, "Coffee Table Quick Tips".