Dean Paderick
CEO/CFO
hdpaderick@aol.com

(757) 468-4513

Dean Paderick is the Chief Executive Officer of SPEC RESCUE International. He has taught courses at the local, state, and national level, including the National Emergency Training Center/National Fire Academy. Dean has served as faculty and presenter for conferences including FDIC (Fire Department Instructors' Conference) and First Due. He is noted for having started the Heavy and Tactical Rescue Program in Virginia in 1980 and for creating "Da Worm," an internationally recognized Confined Space Training Module.

He has a strong background in instructional development and course delivery on the local, state, and national level. Dean has participated in the development of courses in fire, emergency medical service, incident management, and terrorism, as well as all aspects of technical rescue.

As a member of FEMA's US&R VA TF-2, Dean primarily serves as a Plans Officer, with Safety Officer and Rescue Technician qualifications, as well. He serves on two NFPA Committees: Special Operations Protective Clothing and Equipment (#1951) and Life Safety Rope (#1983). Like many Spec Rescue instructors and partners, he was part of a team that responded to the September 11 crisis.

Dean has been in the fire service since 1965, following a tour with the U.S. Marine Corps. He served as the Fire Chief in Troutville, VA and became a Virginia State Certified Fire Instructor in 1974. He was an Area Supervisor for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs in 1990, later promoted to Director of Training for the Commonwealth in 1994. There, he served as Agency Legislative Liaison as well as the Technical Instruction Supervisor and Coordinator. In February 1998, Dean retired from State Service with over 25 years in the Public Safety arena.

Chase Sargent
Partner
cnsargent@aol.com

Chase Sargent retired as a Division Chief/Paramedic with the Virginia Beach Fire Department in 2005 after 27 years of service. During his tenure he served in many operational and administrative capacities including as a company officer, training Captain, operational battalion chief, commanding officer of the special operations division, homeland security coordinator, PIO and city wide tour commander for B shift. Chief Sargent has an extensive background in WMD/HAZMAT as well as Technical Rescue.
As part of this duties Chase also served as a Task Force leader with VATF-2 FEMA US&R Task Force and as a member of the FEMA White IST. During his tenure Chase deployed to numerous natural disasters as well as the Atlanta Olympics. Chase served as the night operations officer at the Murrah Building attack in Oklahoma City and at the World Trade Center Terrorist attacks as well as the G-8. Since retirement Chase has taken a position as a medical specialist with the Task Force.
In 1995 Chase was recruited by the Norfolk FBI to develop and assume the position of the medical lead for the tactical medical program. Since that time Chase has served as the Chief Tactical Medic for the Norfolk Division in both training and deployment.
Over the course of his career Chase has published hundreds of articles in professional journals, provided expert witness services to cases such as the World Trade Center Health issues, and published two books with Penwell Publishing. The best selling Buddy to Boss Effective Fire Service Leadership and Confined Space Entry and Rescue Operations. Along with publishing Chase has been a dynamic and sought after speaker for keynotes and conferences across the globe. The Buddy to Boss three day leadership seminars are the most sought after program.
Chase is, or has been an adjunct instructor with Blackwater worldwide in the WPPS, Firearms and Tactics, Riverine and other specialty programs.
After retiring Chase went to work for the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security Services as a special operations medic and instructor in the Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program, where he spent two and a half years. Chase is currently working for the U.S. State Department as a PSD Medic and Personal Protective Specialist on a high threat protective detail in Iraq, where he is entering his second year of service.
Chase will eventually settle down and rejoin the fire and rescue service seeking a Chiefs job in a department somewhere in the U.S.

Jon Rigolo
Partner
jrigolo@aol.com

Jon is a Partner of SPEC RESCUE International, where he develops and delivers fire, technical rescue and management classes worldwide. He specializes in HAZMAT management and structural collapse, and is the lead instructor for FEMA’s Structural Collapse Technician course. His duties include the development and delivery of Collapse Technician classes across the country.

Jon is a Captain assigned to a Fire Station Hazardous Materials Response team. He started teaching technical rescue and structure collapse classes in 1990. As a member of Virginia's Department of Fire Programs Heavy and Tactical Team, Jon has developed and delivered technical rescue classes across the state of Virginia.

As a Rescue Squad leader with FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue team VA TF-2 , Jon has responded to many disasters, including the Pentagon deployment of September, 11 2001.

Andy Speier
North West Regional Director
andy@peakrescue.org

Andy is a lead instructor and Director of the North West region for SPEC RESCUE International. He is also a Lead Instructor for the Peak Rescue Institute Rope Rescue Program in Joshua Tree National Park.

A 26 year veteran of the fire service, Andy is currently a Captain for the Snohomish County Fire District 1 in Washington state, as well as the coordinator of the department and regional Technical Rescue Team. He has worked for several departments in the Puget Sound area and was a Firefighter for the FDNY assigned to Ladder 4 and Engine 54 in Midtown Manhattan.

As an Adjunct Instructor, Andy is the lead instructor for the South Puget Sound Community College Rescue Program and is the Director of the NW Office of Spec Rescue. Andy is a member of WA-1 DMAT. He has taught fire and rescue classes for Fire and Law Enforcement agencies throughout the country, and lectured at several national and state conferences. Andy has been awarded numerous medals and certificates of merit throughout his career

Robert Hnatko
Managing Director
rhnatko@aol.com

Bob is active in instructional delivery to clients as well as curriculum development for many of SPEC RESCUE International’s programs. Bob has also served as Project Manager for several high profile clients in both the public and private market.

Introduced to firefighting by his father, Bob has spent 20 years in the fire service. Starting his career at the age of 14 (as a Junior Vol. Firefighter), Bob currently holds Life Membership status with the Gouldsboro Vol. Fire Dept. in Gouldsboro, PA.

Bob is currently employed by the Chesapeake Fire Dept. Special Operations Homeland Security Division as Firefighter Specialist, Virginia Department of Fire Programs as a Special Adjunct Instructor, Virginia Department of Emergency Management Technological Hazards Division as an Adjunct Instructor, and a member of the South Side Regional Virginia State HAZMAT Response Team as a Hazardous Materials Specialist.

Gary Newton

Operations Manager/Board Secretary

ghnewton@cox.net

Gary retired from the Virginia Beach Fire Department after 27 years during which he was stationed at various Engine and Ladder companies. He is a Virginia Department of Fire Programs instructor, American Heart Association CPR and Fire Aid instructor and Virginia State Emergency Medical Technician Basic Instructor. Gary was assigned to the Virginia Beach Fire Training Center and was responsible for overseeing EMS training fo rthe department, assisting with the department's EMT Today television program as well as assisting with Recruit Firefighter training. Gary taught as adjunct faculty member for Tidewater Community College for 7 years in the Health Services curriculum. After retiring from the department, he was hired as the Training Coordinator for VATF-2 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team where he was responsible for all personnel records, training records, scheduling of classes required for team members, setting up and overseeing the annual Task Force Maintenance process, maintaining an up-to-date library as well as being a member of the Training committee and assisting with team deployments. Gary is currently the Office and Operations Manager at Spec Rescue International in charge of all operation considerations involving FEMA Specialist classes.

Tami Curley

Accounting

Tami Curley is mainly responsible for Spec Rescue accounting, recordkeeping and equipment sales. However, she assists with instructor logistics including travel and equipment needs. She has been with Spec Rescue since 2001, starting out part-time to help with the accounting, travel, and recordkeeping and has since moved into a full-time position that now also includes equipment sales management.

Tami graduated in 1987 from Slippery Rock University with a B.S.Ed. in Health and Physical Education with an emphasis in Sports Management. She taught in the Lorain, Ohio school system before moving to Virginia. Since arriving in Virginia she coached gymnastics for Ocean Tumblers Gymnastics, managing the London Bridge Road center. In 1999, she graduated from Old Dominion University with an M.S.Ed. in Exercise Physiology and American College of Sports Medicine certification in Health Fitness Instructor.

Although not trained in Emergency Services, Tami has attended and assisted with Spec Rescue training classes including Confined Space and Structural Collapse, which has broadened her knowledge base. Tami is a quick learner and has learned multiple equipment lines to assist customers with their equipment needs and requests.

Christopher Gurley

Information Technology

Christopher has worked for Spec Rescue for close to four years. He currently oversees the handling of the office network and is in charge of the company’s technology. He also is in charge of booking all travel needs for Spec Rescue’s instructors and owners for any classes or special projects they have. In June 2003, Christopher graduated from First Colonial High School with honors. In August 2006, Christopher received a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from ECPI College of Technology in Virginia Beach.