Instructors for the FAC
Instructors for the FAC are respected, revered and bring thousands of experiential hours to the classroom.
FAC Instructor Anthony Avillo
Anthony Avillo, with 40 years in the fire service, retired as Deputy Chief of North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire & Rescue after 30 years of service.
As an urban fireground commander, Avillo led fire and emergency operations in some of the most congested cities in the United States.
He is the author of Fireground Strategies, 4th ed. (2025) and coauthor of Full Contact Leadership (2017).
Avillo is the Region 3 Director of the ISFSI and the retired Director of the Monmouth County (NJ) Fire Academy. He is a member of the Fire Engineering / FDIC Editorial Advisory Board and was the recipient of the 2012 ISFSI George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award. He holds a B.S. in Fire Science and an M.S. in National Security Studies. Avillo is a Level II NJ Certified Fire Instructor and speaks throughout the United States and Canada on topics including command and control, leadership, building construction, fireground strategies and tactics, and operations.
FAC Instructor Sean Duffy
Sean Duffy is a firefighter with the City of Ann Arbor Fire Department. Over his 20-year career, he has worked in several response districts, including rural, suburban, and urban areas. Sean grew up around emergency services and knew from a young age that firefighting was what he wanted to do.
Inspired by his father, who was an EMT for the City of Trenton, he began his journey into the fire service at 18 years old, joining his local volunteer fire department. Recognizing the importance of passing on knowledge to future generations, Sean became involved in training and now leads one of the most recognized and sought-after search programs in the country.
He is a co-founder of a training portal website, Build Your Culture, a published author, a national speaker, and has instructed across the country and internationally. Sean’s published work can be found in Fire Engineering and Firehouse magazines, as well as The Book of Search by Firehouse Vigilance. He also co-authored the position paper Removing Two In/Two Out: A Modern Data-Supported Defense of Our Core Mission.
Recently, Sean was accepted to serve as a technical panel member for the Fire Service Research Institute’s Multi-Story Residential Tactics Research Project. He strongly believes in providing quality fire training while maintaining a commitment to continuous growth, both professionally and personally.
FAC Instructor Brian Brush
Brian’s career spans several states, from rural volunteer fire departments to metro-sized departments.
His career spans several states, from rural volunteer fire departments to metro-sized departments. In addition to having a master’s degree in fire and emergency management, he is an executive fire officer and a Chief Training Officer. He is a member of the advisory boards for Fire Engineering and FirefighterRescueSurvey.com. He is co-author of the new textbook Mastering Fireground Command–Calm the Chaos! (Fire Engineering).
FAC Instructor Daniel DeYear
Daniel is originally from The Bronx in New York City and began his Fire Service Career in the Northeast. His time in the Fire Service began over 45 years ago. He previously worked for the Carrollton Fire Department for nearly 10 years, serving in several capacities including Training Chief.
He then served as an International Fire Marshal and Ambassador for the American Fire Service for the U. S. Department of State, Foreign Building Operations, where he travelled to more than 35 countries providing fire & life safety to the United States Embassies and Consulates around the world.
FAC Instructor Phillip Jose
Phillip Jose, Retired Deputy Chief, served 30 years with Seattle Fire.
He chaired the SOG-PIA committees and was named Chief of the Year in 2013.
An FDIC instructor for 20+ years, he received the Tom Brennan Award in 2008.
A respected author, he contributed to Instructor 1 for Fire and Emergency Services, Air Management for the Fire Service, and Fire Engineering Handbook FF I & II, as well as Fire Engineering’s “Bread and Butter” video series and SCBA training.
FAC Instructor Anthony Rowett, Jr.
Anthony Rowett, Jr. is a Captain with the Mobile (AL) Fire Rescue Department. He has been in the fire service for 19 years.
He spent his first 3 years in the fire service as a firefighter with the Ogdensburg (NJ) Volunteer Fire Department before being hired by the Mobile Fire Rescue Department, where he has worked for the past 16 years.
He has multiple degrees in both fire science and emergency services management. He is a graduate of the Alabama Smoke Diver course. He is the owner of Port City Fire Training and President of the Alabama Firefighters Training Foundation.
Anthony is a contributing author for multiple fire service publications including Fire Engineering, Fire Rescue, Firehouse, Fire Department Training Network, and Firemanship Journal.
He has instructed at multiple fire service conferences including FDIC, Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World, Water on the Fire, High-Rise Operations Conference, 3rd Coast Conference, and others as well as for individual fire departments. He is also a FDIC H.O.T instructor.
He is a member of the NFPA 14: Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems Committee. He is also a co-host on the Generation Engine podcast on Fire Engineering Blog Talk Radio.
FAC Instructor Marc Aloan
Marc Aloan is a Battalion Chief with the West Columbia (SC) Fire Department and creator of The Fire Inside blog. He is an active speaker, author, and instructor with 20 years of combined volunteer and career service. He also holds a B.S. in Fire Protection Administration and a M.A. in Organizational Leadership.
FAC Instructor Paul Combs
Paul Combs joined the fire service in 1995 and has been a fire service instructor since 2000. He is a retired Lieutenant for the City of Bryan Fire Department in Ohio and an FDIC presenter, keynoter, and Hands-On Training instructor.
He was the recipient of the 2018 George D. Post ISFSI Instructor of the Year Award. Paul is currently an instructor with On-Scene Training Associates and the City of Bryan Regional Training Academy and lectures internationally on leadership and success planning.
He is the editorial cartoonist for Fire Engineering Magazine, the author of four books, and the illustrator of the best-selling Sprinkles the Fire Dog series. Additionally, he is a USO volunteer entertainer, traveling the globe to bring comfort to active, wounded, and retired U.S. warriors through his art in association with the National Cartoonists Society.
FAC Instructor Samuel Hittle
Samuel Hittle is a Captain with Wichita Fire assigned to Rescue 2.
He is an FDIC, Traditions Training, and Wichita HoT Instructor, FDIC Lecturer, contributing author for Fire Engineering, Urban Firefighter, and Fire Rescue, former contributor to Fire Nuggets, and FiRescue Interactive publications, a Fire Engineering Google Hangout Panel Member, is a two time Firehouse Magazine Heroism Award recipient (2012 and 2015), Kansas State Fire Marshall Tom McGaughey Award Recipient, Wichita Fire Department Firefighter of the Year, Wichita Fire Truck Company Coordinator.
Hittle also served on the Interior Attack Technical Panel for UL, and is a member of the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) Executive Advisory Board.
FAC Instructor Mike Gagliano
Mike Gagliano has over 33 years of fire, crash, and rescue experience with the Seattle Fire Department and the United States Air Force.
He teaches nationwide on Fireground Tactics/Decision-Making, Air Management, Leadership, and Company Officer Development and currently serves as the president of the Firefighter Air Coalition (aircoalition.org).
Captain Gagliano has authored numerous fire service articles and co-authored the bestselling books Air Management for the Fire Service and Challenges of the Firefighter Marriage. He is a member of the Fire Engineering/FDIC Advisory Board and the Emeritus Board of the Firefighter Safety Research Institute.
Additionally, he co-hosts the popular Fire Engineering radio webcast The Mikey G and Mikey D Show and collaborates with his wife, Anne (Firelife.com), to teach strategies for building and maintaining a strong marriage and family. (retired)
FAC Instructor Ric Jorge
Ric Jorge is a firefighter (ret.) from Palm Beach County (FL).
He is a co-author of the best-selling book, Developing Firefighter Resilience, and the founder of Tactical Resiliency Training LLC that specializes in performance training.
Ric also facilitates substance abuse and mental health groups at a rehab located in south Florida that is just for uniformed personnel, retired or active.
FAC Instructor Mike Dugan
Mike is a 45-year veteran of the fire service and a 27-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), retiring as Captain of Ladder 123.
As a firefighter in Ladder Company 43, Dugan received the James Gordon Bennett Medal in 1992 and the Harry M. Archer Medal in 1993, the FDNY’s highest award for bravery. He developed training programs that were taught to all FDNY members.
Mike is a contributing editor at Fire Engineering Magazine, a teacher at the Fire Department Instructor Conference (FDIC), and a Fire Engineering and FDIC Executive Board member. He is a featured lecturer across the country, teaching Truck Company Operations, the impact of building construction on firefighter safety, leadership, and issues affecting today’s fire service.
He was awarded the “Tommy Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2021.
FAC Instructor Nicholas Papa
Nicholas Papa is a captain with the New Britain (CT) Fire Department, where he has served for 17 years.
A second-generation firefighter, he entered the fire service in 2003, volunteering for a neighboring suburb until his appointment to the NBFD. He is a Fire Engineering best-selling author of Coordinating Ventilation, an FDIC Educational Advisory Board member and instructor, and a past FSRI technical panelist for the Study on Coordinated Fire Attack.
Nick is also the founder of the fire service training and consulting organization Fireside Training.
FAC Instructor John NormanDeputy Assistant Chief (Ret.) John Norman is a veteran of over 50 years in the fire service, including over 27 years with the FDNY, the majority of that time in Special Operations units. Chief Norman served as a firefighter with Engine Company 290, and Ladder Company 103 in Brooklyn, Rescue Company 3 which covered the Bronx and Harlem, and helped organize Hazardous Materials Company 1 at its inception in 1984. As a Lieutenant, he served with Rescue Company 2, which covered all of Brooklyn, and as a Captain, he was the Company Commander of Rescue Company 1 which is located in Manhattan’s high rise district, just off Times Square. While still assigned to Rescue Company 1, John worked with the Safety Command and the Fire Commissioner’s High Rise Fire Safety Task Force, investigating and then developing high-rise fire safety legislation in the wake of the fatal Vandalia Avenue and Macauley Culkin fires, which killed three firefighters and six civilians. Promotion to Battalion Chief in 1999 brought assignment to Battalion 10 and the Y2K Preparation Task Force before assignment to Battalion 16. In the days after September 11th, 2001, and the collapse of the Twin Towers, John was designated as the Search and Rescue Manager for the World Trade Center site. He operated in that position for two months before assuming the job of Chief of Special Operations on a full-time basis. He was subsequently promoted to Deputy Chief in June of 2003, remaining in Special Operations. In August 2004, Chief Norman was promoted to Deputy Assistant Chief, and once again designated as Chief of Special Operations as well as a Citywide Tour Commander. Norman is also the author of The Fire Officer’s Handbook. |
FAC Instructor Dave McGrail
Dave McGrail is a 36-year veteran of the fire service and an Assistant Chief with the Denver Fire Department.
He instructs internationally on a wide range of fire service topics, specializing in high-rise firefighting operations. He is the author of the book Firefighting Operations in High-Rise and Standpipe Equipped Buildings published by PennWell (Fire Engineering Books and Videos) in 2007.
Dave holds two Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Fire Science Technology, one with a focus in Fire Suppression, and the other with a focus in Fire Prevention. Dave also holds two Bachelor of Science Degrees, one in Human Resource Management, and the other in Fire Service Administration.
FAC Instructor Clark Lamping
Clark Lamping has been on the Clark County (NV) Fire Department for 27 years and has been a captain for 15.
He has a master’s degree in Crisis and Emergency Management from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Clark teaches classroom sessions and HOT in the US, Canada, and Europe. He is currently assigned to Firehouse 38B.
FAC Instructor Jimmy Davis
Jimmy Davis is a captain and 30-year veteran of the Chicago (IL) Fire Department assigned to Engine Co. 43.
He teaches regularly at the Chicago Fire Department R.J. Quinn Fire Academy on a variety of subjects, including the department’s high-rise and promotional programs.
He instructs both nationally and internationally on high-rise firefighting strategies.