Dave is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the USAFR and works for 1AF/AFNORTH through the United States Air Force Directorate for National Security and Emergency Preparedness as the USAF Liaison Officer to the State of Kansas. Prior to his current position he served 11 years with HQ – Air Combat Command at the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center as a Search and Rescue Controller/Instructor and a Watch Supervisor. While on duty in this position, he held the # 1 Federal SAR job - he has been involved in over 2,400 SAR missions, during which 141 lives were saved. In 2007, Dave was named one of 10 National Nurse Heroes through Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society in Nursing.

Dave currently works for Lawrence Memorial Hospital as a RN and Clinical Assistant for disaster planning in the Emergency Department. He previously served full-time as the Fire Chief for Soldier Township Fire Department. This department has 39 full- and part-time personnel and provides fire, water rescue, and first responder medical services for 63 square miles in Shawnee County. Dave has also worked at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center as a Trauma Nurse Specialist in the ER. Dave holds a Masters Degree in Homeland Security, a Bachelor of Education Degree, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, is a nationally certified emergency nurse (CEN), and a nationally certified legal nurse consultant (CLNC). He is also a Private Safety Consultant for business and industry; Search and Rescue Technician I (SARTECH I); SARTECH Lead Evaluator; former 5-year member of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR); member of the Peer review committee for National K9 SARTECH Program; Region 7 Representative for the NASAR K9 Section; Education Coordinator for K9 Section (NASAR); author of the National Disaster K9 Standards for NASAR, has taken the Advanced Search and Rescue class (ADSAR), SAR Incident Command, Advanced SAR Management, National SAR School Inland SAR Course, Kevin George Seminar; Presenter for the Hug-a-Tree and Survive program; Dive Rescue Specialist I (International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists); Kansas Certified Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate with AED and Intubation endorsements; and Fire-Medic KUFST, Instructor I, Fire Officer I, Hazardous Materials-Operations Level, High Angle Rescue, Arson Detection and Determination.

Dave has completed FEMA Courses including ARNORTH Defense Support for Civil Authorities (DSCA) Phase I and Phase II training; ICS 100, 200, 700, 800 Incident Command System; ICS G300 Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents; ICS 400 Advanced Incident Command System for Command and General Staff; IS-00244 Developing and Managing Volunteers; IS-00240 Leadership and Influence; IS-00241 Decision Making & Problem Solving; IS-00242 Effective Communication; IS-00809 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #9 Search and Rescue; IS-00801 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #1 Transportation; IS-00802 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #2 Communications; IS-00804 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #4 Firefighting; IS-00807 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #7 Logistics Management and Resource Support; IS-00808 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #8 Public Health and Medical Service; IS-00810 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #10 Oil and Hazardous Materials Response; IS-00812 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #12 Energy; IS-00813 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #13 Public Safety and Security; and IS-00250 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #15 External Affairs.

Dave and SAR K9 Thunder (1994-2000) were KSARDA's first K9 Team. Dave then teamed with K9 Jeremiah (1999-2007), K9 Meeko (2007-2010), and now is a second handler for K9 Trooper. Dave is currently training his new partner K9 Wiley, a Border Collie.

For More Information About KSARDA, Contact: info@ksarda.org

Gary Swift, Deputy Director Southern Region	Heather Jones, Director	Russell Pugh, Deputy Director Northern Region
gws565@hotmail.com	h.jones85@yahoo.com	rpughfarm@yahoo.com
Cell:  316-871-4143	Cell:  816-377-0861	Cell:  785-408-9889

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