Speakers

Dr. Roger L. Barker
Burlington Chair in Textile Technology—Director of T-PACC

N.C. State University
www.tx.ncsu.edu/research/tpacc

3315 College of Textiles
2401 Research Drive
Box 8301
Raleigh, NC 27695
roger_barker@ncsu.edu
Tel: 919-515-6577

Professor Roger Barker is the Burlington Distinguished Professor in the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science at North Carolina State University and Director of the Center for Research on Textile Protection and Comfort (T-PACC) at NC State. T-PACC is a world leader in laboratory based instrumented systems for research and for evaluating the protective performance and comfort of clothing and textile materials.

Professor Barker is widely published in the field of thermal protection, clothing comfort and protective clothing measurement systems. He is active in NFPA, ASTM and ISO committees involved in the development of standards for measurement of textile comfort properties and protective performance. He is a member of the National Academy Institute of Medicine Review, and an adjunct professor of medicine at Einstein Medical College. He holds BS and MS degrees in physics from the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. in Textile and Polymer Science from Clemson University.

Dr. Maxim A. Batalin
Research Program Manager
UCLA Wireless Health Institute

Dr. Maxim A. Batalin is a Research Program Manager at the UCLA Wireless Health Institute. In that role, he has led the development of the first of its kind system for remote monitoring and diagnosis, medical sensor/device automated management and patient feedback. Dr. Batalin is a Program Manager and Coordinator for the Department of Homeland Security PHASER program that develops innovations for health and safety of First Responders.

Dr. Batalin is also a Senior Technology Strategist at the UCLA Institute for Technology Advancement (ITA) with extensive expertise in Intelligent Information Technology (IIT) with specific emphasis on security, intelligent systems, sensor networking, biomedical systems, robotics and automation, embedded systems and IIT infrastructure design.

Dr. Batalin has over 40 publications in leading journals and conference proceedings. Dr. Batalin holds a PhD in Computer Science from University of Southern California (Los Angeles, USA), as well as BS in Computer Science and Mathematics from University of Oregon (Eugene, USA), MS in Management from Tavriya National University (Simferopol, Ukraine).

Dr. Christina Baxter

Dr. Baxter is the Program Manager for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasures (CBRNC) subgroup at the Technical Support Working Group (TSWG). TSWG is a program element within DoD’s Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO). The TSWG CBRNC subgroup works closely with the interagency user community from all levels of Government and with various international partners to provide timely solutions in the areas of protection, detection, consequence management and information resources. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 22 directed the TSWG CBRNC subgroup to lead the Nation’s research and development planning for Protective Equipment for Chemical Defense.

Dr. Baxter is active in NFPA committees involved in the development of standards for personal protective equipment for hazardous materials response and operations. She is currently a member of the NFPA Hazardous Materials Protective Clothing and Equipment Technical Committee and the NFPA Technical Correlating Committee on Fire and Emergency Services Protective Clothing and Equipment. Dr. Baxter is also a member of the InterAgency Board for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability. She holds BS degrees in Chemistry and Environmental Science from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Karl Beeman Inc.
www.karlbeeman.com
9724 Casper Peak Ct
Las Vegas, NV 89117

kjbeeman@karlbeeman.com
Phone: 702-513-2828 (cell)
Fax: 702-242-2751

Karl J. Beeman is an industry consultant and subject matter expert on the maintenance of protective ensembles for emergency services applications. His work includes assisting emergency services organizations with all aspects of planning, equipping, installing and operating an on-premise cleaning and inspection facility as well as, developing and implementing an effective maintenance program. In addition, Karl has also worked with both manufacturers and organizations on research projects related to maintenance of protective ensembles.

Karl has been associated with the emergency services industry for the last 34 years as a career firefighter, manufacturing representative, and subject matter consultant. He is a retired veteran of the US Air Force, and US Air Force Reserves, having served 23 years as a Fire Protection Specialist. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Southern Area Fire Equipment Research (SAFER), Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Working Group (ARFF WG) and, has worked as a principle member on NFPA 1971, and NFPA 1851, technical Committees.

Deena G Cotterill

Education:

• University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
  Degree: Bachelor of Science, December 2007
  Major: Merchandising, Apparel & Textiles
• University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
  Degree: Master of Science, December 2009
  Major: Merchandising, Apparel & Textiles

Work Experience:

• University of Kentucky Textile Testing Lab – Lab Technician (2005 – 2008)
• University of Kentucky Textile Testing Lab – Lab Manager (2008 – 2010)
• Bureau Veritas – Global Account Specialist – (2010 – Present

Awards:

• School of Human & Environmental Sciences 2008 Graduate Student of Excellence
• Dean’s List for High Academics
• Kentucky Association of Family and Consumer Sciences 2007 Outstanding Student Award
• School of Human & Environmental Sciences Centennial Future 100 Award
• Maurice A. Clay Award

Mr. Shawn Deaton is currently the Special Projects Director of the Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC) located within the College of Textiles at North Carolina State University. He is responsible for the day to day operations of the Center and oversees a number of research projects related to PPE and comfort. His main areas of interest relate to thermal testing and the use of manikin technologies to assess the protection provided from full ensembles after a thermal or a chemical exposure. The use of manikins to measure the total heat loss from a full ensemble is also of interest to him.

Mr. Deaton is an active member of ASTM International F23 Committee on Protective Clothing and Equipment. Currently he is the sub-committee chair of F23.60 on Human Factors. He also participates in the National Fire Protection Technical Committees on Structural and Proximity Fire Fighting Protective Clothing and Equipment.

Mr. Deaton holds a Bachelor degree in Textile Material Science and a Masters Degree in Textile Engineering from North Carolina State University.

Ryan Depew, FF/EMT-B

Ryan Depew is a Massachusetts native and graduate of the University of New Hampshire. For the first decade of the millennium, he was a career firefighter with the Chapel Hill Fire Department in North Carolina.

Ryan returned to Massachusetts upon employment with National Fire Protection Association in May of 2010. He currently holds the position of Fire Service Specialist and is the staff liaison to a diverse group of fire service documents. Ryan’s professional certifications include:

• Firefighter II
• Driver Operator
• Emergency Vehicle Driver
• EMT-B
• Fire Instructor II
• Fire Inspector I
• Rescue Technician, former Urban Search And Rescue Technician with NCTF8 USAR Team

EXPERIENCE

2000 - Present. Assistant to the General President, Occupational Health, Safety and Medicine, International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO, CLC, Washington, D.C. Responsible for all the internal and external occupational health, safety and medical activities for the IAFF.

1979 - 2000. Director, Department of Occupational Health and Safety, International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO, CLC, Washington, D.C. Direct the development and implementation of an occupational safety and health department for an international labor union. Provide technical assistance and expert testimony to IAFF principal officers and local affiliates. Organize and conduct safety and health seminars. Develop safety and health manuals and audiovisual materials. Provide liaison with professional and trade associations, federal agencies, and other organizations. Administrator of the IAFF John P. Redmond Foundation, which is responsible for studies and symposiums on the occupational health and hazards of the fire service. Principal investigator and program manager for all government contracts and grants involving occupational health and safety.

1976 - 1979. Research Associate, INFORM, Incorporated, New York, New York Responsible for the research and writing of an occupational health and safety study of the primary copper smelting industry. Participated in a National Science Foundation funded study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the effects of public regulation on the copper wire industry. Participated in National Science Foundation funded occupational health and safety seminars for copper smelter workers in cooperation with the United Steelworkers of America.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, APPOINTMENTS, AND SOCIETIES

• Principal Investigator, IAFF Light Weight SCBA Program
• Project Director and Facilitator, IAFF/IAFC Joint Fire Service Task Force on Wellness and Fitness
• Principal Investigator, IAFF Project HEROES
• Chairman, Technical Correlating Committee on Fire and
• Emergency Services Protective Clothing and Equipment, National Fire Protection Association
• Chairman, Technical Committee on Fire Service Protective
• Clothing and Equipment, National Fire Protection Association
• Member, Committee Secretary, Technical Committee on Career Fire Service Organization and Deployment, National Fire Protection Association
• Member, Interagency Board for Standardization and Interoperability
• Member, Workers’ Family Protection Task Force, NIOSH, CDC
• Member, ISO/TC94/SC13/WG4, Fire Fighters Protective Clothing Working Group, International Standards Organization
• Member, Board of Directors, International Society of Respiratory Protection
• Casualty Council, Underwriters Laboratories
• Councilor, Johns Hopkins Health Advisory Council, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health
• Member, Z-88 Committee for Respiratory Protection, American National Standards Institute

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, APPOINTMENTS, AND SOCIETIES

• Council of Fellows, Collegium Ramazzini
• Member, Technical Committee on Hazardous Materials Response Personnel, National Fire Protection Association
• Member, Technical Committee on Fire Service Occupational Safety and Health, National Fire Protection Association
• Member, Board of Assessment for the Center for Fire Research, National Institute for Standards and Technology, National Academy of Science
• Member, F-23 Committee for Protective Clothing, American Society for Testing Materials
• Member, F-30 Committee for Emergency Medical Services, American Society for Testing Materials
• Member, Governor's Hazardous and Toxic Substances Study Commission, State of Maryland
• Member (Alternate), Joint Council of National Fire Service Organizations
• Member, Bureau of Labor Statistics' Labor Advisory Committee, U.S. Department of Labor
• Member, Society of Occupational and Environmental Health
• Member, American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Member, American Public Health Association
• Member, New York Academy of Sciences

PUBLICATIONS
Duffy, Richard M., Project Manger; Roche, Kevin; Weider, Michael. Improving Apparatus Response and Roadway Operations Safety in the Career Fire Service, Washington, DC.: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2007.

Duffy, Richard M., Project Manger; Roche, Kevin; Weider, Michael, Stull, JeffreyEmergency Incident Rehabilitation, Washington, DC.: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2007.

Duffy, Richard M.; Initiative Director. Candidate Physical Ability Test. Washington, DC.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1999, 2001, 2008.

Duffy, Richard M.; Initiative Director. Fire Service Joint Labor/Management Wellness Fitness Initiative. Washington, DC.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1997, 2000, 2008.

Duffy, R; Levinson, A; Gist, R; Greene, J. Developing Fire Service Labor/Employee Assistance and Critical Incident Stress Programs. Washington, DC.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1999.

Stull, J and Duffy, R. Field Evaluation of Protective Clothing Effects on Fire Fighter Physiology: Predictive Capability of Total Heat Loss Test. 1999.

Orris, P; Melius, J; Duffy, RM, Editors. Firefighters’ Safety and Health, Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews, Vol. 10, No. 4, October - December 1995; Philadelphia, PA: Hanley and Belfus, Inc. 1995.

Duffy, Richard M.; Barlow, Jane; Martin, Jim; McGrail, Michael; Joines, Ron; Kuhnen, Ann; Arndt, Sharon; and Melius, James. Recognition and Prevention of Occupational Heart Diseases, Washington, DC.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1994.

Duffy, Richard M., Project Manger; Doyle, Sharon; Scott, Tom; Dernocoeur, Kate; DiPinto, Elizabeth. EMS Safety: Techniques & Applications, Washington, DC.: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1994.

Duffy, Richard M.; Mitchell, Clifford S.; Doyle, Sharon; and Melius, James. Infectious Diseases and the Fire and Emergency Services., Washington, DC.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1992.

Duffy, Richard M. and Doyle, Sharon. Developing Fire Service Labor/Employee Assistance Programs. Washington, DC.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1992.

Duffy, Richard M.; Vaughn, Andrew; Doyle, Sharon; McDiarmid, Melissa; and Melius, James. Developing Fire Service Occupational Health Programs, Washington, DC.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1992.

Duffy, Richard M.; McCall, Patrick; Bass, Randale; and Tubbs, Randy L. Fire and Emergency Service Hearing Conservation Program Manual. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters; Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1992.

Agnew J; McDiarmid, MA; Lees, PSJ; Duffy, R. Reproductive Hazards of Fire Fighting, I. Non-Chemcial Hazards. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 19:433-445, 1991.

McDiarmid, MA; Lees, PSJ; Agnew, J; Duffy, R. Reproductive Hazards of Fire Fighting, II. Chemcial Hazards. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 19:447-472, 1991.

Duffy, Richard M., Ford, J. Patrick, Rothman, Nathanal, Vita, Joe. Guidelines to Prevent Transmission of Communicable Disease During Emergency Care for Fire Fighters, Paramedics and Emergency Response Personnel. Washington, DC.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1988.

Duffy, Richard M.; Beer, Alan R.; and Tubbs, Randy L. Fire Fighter Fire Fighter Hearing Conservation Manual. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters/Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1988.

Duffy, Richard M.; Beer, Alan R.; McGillivary, Gregory K.; Woodley, Thomas A.; and Wright, Curtis. Drug Testing in the Fire Service. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1987.

Froines, John R.; Hinds, William C.; Duffy, Richard M.; LaFuente, Edward J.; and Liu, Wen-Chen V., "Exposure of Firefighters to Diesel Emissions in Fire Stations", American Industrial Hygiene Journal, 48(3):202-207, 1987.

Duffy, Richard M.; Beer, Alan R.; and Sawicki Jack C. Project FIRES: The Final Report. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1985.
Duffy, Richard M.; Beer, Alan R.; and Sawicki Jack C. Minimum Standards for Fire Fighter Protective Clothing and Equipment. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1984.

Duffy, Richard M.; Beer, Alan R.; and Sawicki Jack C. Fire Fighter Occupational Noise Exposure. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1983.

Duffy, Richard M.; Beer, Alan R.; and Sawicki Jack C. Occupational Cancer and the Fire Fighter. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1983.

Duffy, Richard M.; Beer, Alan R.; and Sawicki Jack C. PASS (Personal Alert Safety Systems). Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1983.

Duffy, Richard M.; Beer, Alan R.; and Sawicki Jack C. Procuring Fire Fighter Protective Clothing. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1983.

Duffy, Richard M., "Trends in Protective Equipment", FIRE SERVICE TODAY, National Fire Protection Association, 50(5):34-37, 1983.

Duffy, Richard M.; Beer, Alan R.; and Sawicki Jack C. Health and Safety Contract Information. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1982.

Duffy, Richard M.; DeChime, Louis; and Cole, Boyd. IAFF Aerial Device Testing and Certification Program. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1982.

Duffy, Richard M.; Beer, Alan R.; and Sawicki Jack C. Life Support: A Fire Fighters Guide to Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1982.

Duffy, Richard M.; Beer, Alan R.; and Sawicki Jack C. Line to Safety. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1982.
Duffy, Richard M.; Beer, Alan R.; and Sawicki Jack C. Thermal Stress and the Fire Fighter. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fire Fighters, 1982.

Gomez, Manuel; Duffy, Richard M.; Trivelli, Vincent, At Work In Copper: Occupational Health and Safety in Copper Smelting. New York, New York: INFORM Incorporated, 1979.

EDUCATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE (Health Science), Environmental Health Science; City University of New York, Institute of Health Sciences, Hunter College, New York, New York, 1978.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, Environmental Science; Business Management; Davis and Elkins College, Elkins, West Virginia, 1974.

Timothy B. Durby

Captain Tim Durby has over 28 years with the Phoenix Fire Department. During his career, he has worked on engine companies, ladder companies and the Technical Rescue Team. He is the recipient of the 2006 PFD Annual Safety Award and the 1988 PFD Top Ladder Crew Award.

For the past 14 years, Captain Durby has managed the department’s protective clothing and uniform program. In addition, he has been involved in the following:

• Research and Development
• Facilities
• Automatic External Defibrillator
• Logistics Response

Captain Durby serves on the following departmental committees:

• Phoenix Fire Department RBO Labor Management Committee
• Protective Clothing
• Uniform
• Safety
• Ladder
• Facilities
• Physical Resources

For the past 11 years, Captain Durby has been a very active member of the NFPA Technical Committee on Structural and Proximity Fire Fighting Protective Clothing and Equipment.

Chief Foley started his fire service career in 1987 as a volunteer firefighter and became a career firefighter in 1992, working in both in the municipal and wildland fire environments. In 2006, as a member of the New Generation Fire Shelter Evaluation and Training Committee, he received the Governor's Employee Safety Award for extensive research and significant recommendations to improve the New Generation Fire Shelter.

Chief Foley represents CAL FIRE on the National Fire Protection Association 1977 Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Firefighters Technical Committee, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Equipment Technology Committee, and the NWCG Fire Shelter Task Group. He chairs CAL FIRE’s Personal Protective Equipment Working Group.

Patricia Freeman (a.k.a. Pat) is the Technical Services Manager for Globe Manufacturing Company LLC in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. Pat has been involved with Globe and the fire service for over 30 years, in many different capacities, including supervising the in-house repair department, managing the Globe Quality Assurance Lab, administrative asst. production manager, national sales manager, and finally her current position as Technical Services Manager for Globe. She also acts as the co-chairman on the Globe Design Team, playing a role in research and development.

Pat is a 20 year member of the Technical Committee for NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, and for NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care & Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. She served as the Technical Committee Secretary for NFPA 1971 from 1995 until 2007, and remains an active member of the Technical Committees for both 1971 and its associate standard, 1851. She is also an alternate on the NFPA Technical Correlating Committee.

Pat holds both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management and an Associates Degree in Marketing. Her primary duties include managing the Globe laboratory, supplier liaison, third party certification, and providing technical support, evaluations and training both internally and externally.

Bill Gorak is a New Product Development engineer with W. L. Gore and Associates. He has over 25 years experience with various responsibilities in the development of technologies and products for the Fire and Public Safety and Military markets including CROSSTECH® moisture barriers and GORE® CHEMPAK® fabrics.

Bill has extensive experience using and developing evaluation techniques for demonstrating end-user fitness-for-use needs in various PPE materials. He developed process chemistries for Gore’s moisture barriers, which focused on the fundamental mechanisms and material/process interactions related to NFPA 1971 flammability requirements. He worked on proprietary technologies used in Gore’s advanced chem-bio barrier materials. He led the technical development of multiple chem-bio PPE products. This included identifying end-user performance needs and limitations of current PPE, providing unique final article solutions, developing in-house evaluation methods, and understanding and applying standard test methods to meet performance requirements.

Holding a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry for the University of Delaware, he has given presentations on PPE evaluation techniques and has participated in NFPA 1971 Technical Committee and sub-committee meetings on the subject of stored energy.

Casey C. Grant, P.E.

Casey Grant is the Program Director for the Fire Protection Research Foundation, an affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and a Master’s degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, both in Fire Protection Engineering, and he is a Registered Professional Engineer in the states of California and Tennessee.

Casey is a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, and has one fire protection related U.S. patent. Prior to joining the Research Foundation in 2007, Casey was the Secretary of the NFPA Standards Council and Assistant Chief Engineer, where his responsibilities include oversight for the approximate 300 NFPA codes and standards.

Karen has been with Lion Apparel since November of 2000. As Director, PSG Products she is responsible for product, fabric and material developments and marketing. She also oversees the certification of all product lines and the operation of the Lion Lab.

Karen has been involved with testing products for the fire service since 1995. From 1995 to 2000, she was employed by Intertek Testing Services a third party testing and certification organization. It was during this time that she began serving on NFPA technical committees for fire and emergency services products.

Currently, with Lion Apparel Karen serves on 5 NFPA technical committees (listed below) as well as the ASTM F23 protective clothing committee and the ASTM E54 homeland security committee.

• NFPA Structural and Proximity Fire Fighting Protective Clothing and Equipment
• NFPA Special Operations Protective Clothing and Equipment
• NFPA Emergency Medical Services Protective Clothing and Equipment
• NFPA Hazardous Materials Protective Clothing and Equipment
• NFPA Technical Correlating Committee on Fire and Emergency Services Protective Clothing and Equipment

Michael McKenna retired as a fire captain after almost 32 years of professional fire service experience including over 19 years as a fire captain and seven years as a fire district safety officer. He has been instructing Fire Technology, specializing in fire behavior at American River College since 2000. Michael has over 18 years of fire service program management and problem solving and solution development. He has been involved with the NFPA fire service standards development since 1988 and sits as a member of NFPA 1971, NFPA 1851 and NFPA 1801.

Michael has published several articles on firefighter issues and contributes as a columnist for FireRescue1.com. As a principle in McKenna & Associates, he works with fire departments and other organizations on issues of firefighter safety and solutions design.

Michael has Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics & Public Policy development and an Associate of Arts degree in Fire Technology.

Dan N. Rossos
Training Lieutenant

Portland Fire and Rescue Department
www.Portlandonline.com/fire

Portland Fire and Rescue
Training and Safety Division
4800 NE 122nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97230
drossos@fire.ci.portland.or.us
Phone: 503-823-1165

Lieutenant Rossos has over 30 years of experience in the fire service. His service to the Portland Fire and Rescue Department include assignments in the Marine Division, Special Operations, and Training.

Lieutenant Rossos is currently the chair of the NFPA Technical Committee on Respiratory Protection Equipment. The committee is responsible for the following documents:

• NFPA 1981 – Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Fire and Emergency Services
• NFPA 1852 – Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
• NFPA 1989 – Standard on Breathing Air Quality for Fire and Emergency Services Respiratory Protection

As chair of this NFPA Technical Committee, he is automatically a member of the NFPA Technical Correlating Committee on Fire and Emergency Services Protective Clothing and Equipment.

In addition to his work on firefighter respiratory protection, Lieutenant Rossos is also a member of the NFPA Technical Committee on Fire Service Training. This committee is responsible for the following documents:

• NFPA 1401 – Recommended Practice for Fire Service Training Reports and Records
• NFPA 1402 – Guide to Building Fire Service Training Centers
• NFPA 1403 – Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions
• NFPA 1404 – Standard for Fire Service Respiratory Protection Training
• NFPA 1405 – Guide for Land-Based Fire Fighters Who Respond to Marine Vessel Fires
• NFPA 1410 – Standard on Training for Initial Emergency Scene Operations
• NFPA 1451 – Standard for a Fire Service Vehicle Operations Training Program
• NFPA 1452 – Guide for Training Fire Service Personnel to Conduct Dwelling Fire Safety Surveys

Ms. Angie Shepherd is currently a General Engineer assigned to the Technology Research Branch of the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory. Ms. Shepherd is responsible for a number protective clothing research projects related to fire and emergency service PPE. She recently completed a project to revamp offerings of emergency medical protective clothing that resulted in the 2008 revision of NFPA 1999.

Ms. Shepherd was formerly a Quality Engineer and Process Engineer for DuPont Polyester at their Hopewell, Virginia facility. After which, she became a Senior Project Engineer in PPE Certification for Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. at their Research Triangle Park, North Carolina site from 1999 to 2005.

Ms. Shepherd is a member of National Fire Protection Technical Committees on Structural and Proximity Fire Fighting Protective Clothing and Equipment, Emergency Medical Protective Clothing and Equipment, Hazardous Materials Protective Clothing and Equipment, Special Operations Protective Clothing and Equipment, and Wildland Fire Fighting Protective Clothing and Equipment. She is also the Vice-chairperson for the ASTM International F23 Committee on Protective Clothing and Equipment.

Ms. Shepherd holds B.S.Degrees from N.C. State University in Chemical Engineering and Textile Chemistry. Awards include the Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board Rookie of the Year - Gold Award (2006) and ASTM International President’s Leadership Award (2008).

For the past 18 years, International Personnel Protection, Inc. has been helping the fire service and other industries work toward the improved safety and health for its members. It provides expertise, research, and testing in a broader range of disciplines than any current organization with projects spanning new product development, extensive PPE evaluations, creation of new of new criteria and test methods, and educational efforts for understanding the capabilities and limitations of PPE. International Personnel Protection, Inc. routinely help fire fighters and fire departments dealing with issues related to PPE selection, use, and care. It also provides technical assistance to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) for cutting edge technology advancements for the fire service such as Project HEROES and the new flat pack SCBA technology as well as successful completion of several projects addressing the health and safety of first responders for different government agencies.

Jeff and Grace Stull have actively participated on numerous technical committees both domestically and internationally with significant input to the development of several standards that affect fire fighters and other first responders. They also serve as subject matter experts to the Interagency Board for First Responder Equipment Standardization and Inoperability and provide presentations on several topics related to fire service PPE. Jeff and Grace write a regular column for Fire Rescue 1 (http://www.firerescue1.com/columnists/jeffrey-o-stull/). Jeff Stull was formerly with the U.S. Coast Guard as an officer, where he spent much of his career with responsibility for managing the Coast Guard’s PPE research and development program. Both Jeff and Grace Stull worked at Texas Research Institute in the late 1980s and early 1990s where Jeff was President in charge of programs for PPE research, testing, and certification and Grace worked on classified government programs in materials science. They formed their own company in 1993, based in Austin, Texas, which continues today in providing services to end users, manufacturers, material suppliers, universities, labor unions, and the government.

Dr. William’s current research interests are on the human physiological responses to environmental stresses such as temperature extremes, humidity, and the micro-environments created by personal protective equipment. His research interests also include the physiological responses to breathing novel gas mixtures that include high or low levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide either in the ambient atmosphere or in the breathing space of respirators.

Dr. Williams received BS and MS degrees in Biology (physiology) from San Diego State University and MS and PhD degrees in physiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Williams also completed a 3-year post-doctoral fellowship at the NASA Johnson Space Center under the National Research Council Resident Research Associateship program. Dr. Williams has been a NRC post-doctoral advisor to two post-doctoral fellows and has mentored numerous undergraduate summer students.

Dr. Williams is currently a Research Physiologist within the Technology Research Branch of the NPPTL. He is chair of the US Technical Advisory Group in Human Factors and supports the US position on physiological responses relevant to respiratory protection at international meetings hosted by the International Standards Organizations. Dr. Williams authored a Technical Specification on the physiological responses to high and low concentrations of oxygen and high concentrations of CO2 that will be used as part of the foundation for a larger ISO standard for respiratory protective devices.

Dr. Williams is either a member or past member of the American Physiological Society, the American College of Sports Medicine, Sigma Xi – The Scientific Research Society, and the Biophysical Society. He has published a total of over 70 abstracts, reports, and peer-reviewed scientific articles in the area of human performance under a variety of environmental conditions.

Of his 26 years with DuPont, Rich Young has spent the past fifteen working on fabrics and systems for the protective apparel market. Located at the DuPont plant in Richmond, Va., he is a senior member of the market support and product development team for thermal protective apparel.

Dr. Young is active in developing materials and technologies for Emergency Response garments. He has several patents on fabric and component technologies and has worked with various technical committees on developing new thermal test methods.

Dr. Young earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry at Calif. State University, Sacramento and received his doctorate in organic chemistry from Michigan State University. Previous assignments at DuPont include research on Nomex® aramid polymer characterization, competitive analysis, lightfastness and coloration technologies.

Dr. Young sits on the on the National Fire Protective Association (NFPA) Technical Correlating Committee and works with the Technical Committees on Structural and Proximity Gear, Technical Rescue Gear and Stationwear.

Dr. Young made numerous presentations on protective apparel technologies has particular expertise in thermal protective apparel technology, industry regulations and standards, and on matters involving the fire service industry.