Instructors

Patrick A. Ryan, CIH, CSP, CHMM

Biography : Patrick A. Ryan is the Hazardous Materials Manager at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. His responsibilities include oversight of hazardous waste on campus, and at related offsite locations. He has worked at MSU for over 18 years and has actively worked with Hazmat over 31 years. He has extensive experience with large-scale chemical lab cleanouts and hazardous materials and waste management. His training company, RIH Hazmat www.rihhazmat.com specializes in training simplified, rapid and highly practical Rapid Threat Assessment (RTA) chemistry to professional first responders. He is a certified industrial hygienist (CIH), certified safety professional (CSP), and certified hazardous materials manager (CHMM). He is an active technical presenter with CUHMMC, was part of the ANSI/ASSP Z10 committee from 2021 to 2024 and is a current member of the Institute for Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM) textbook committee and CHMM exam committee. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Occupational Health, from Cal State University Northridge, and has a strong passion for continuous learning and improvement.

Robert Wise

Biography : Robert Wise has been a Federal On-Scene Coordinator with EPA Region 9 Emergency Response. Robert has 35 years experience in Superfund Emergency Response. 15 years as an EPA ER contractor and 20 years as an OSC. Robert is considered a national level expert on Mercury Response and serves on the EPA's Mercury Response Workgroup. Robert is also the Radiation Response Coordinator for EPA Region 9 and serves on the National Radiation Protection Work Group. Robert has designed and presented a number of classes at the Continuing Challenge, the CUPA Forum, Hazmat Explo conferences to name a few. During the COVID pandemic, FOSC Wise was instrumental in preparing the EPA Region 9 virtual 8-Hour HAZWOPER Refresher Training, Mercury Response and Cleanup and the Descent into Madness Classes that was made available for local, state and federal agencies nation wide. Robert has extensive experience in response operations. Robert was the Deputy Incident Commander for the Palestine Collection Base for the 2003 Space Shuttle Disaster, the Division Supervisor for the 2007 EPA San Diego FEMA Fire Recovery Fire Response, Deputy Area Commander for the 2015 Gold King Mine Spill and the High-Hazard Team Leader for a number wildland fire recovery operations in Northern California. Robert has also conducted over 100 CERCLA and OPA Removal actions over his 35 year career.