Instructors

Richard Alamo

Biography : Richard Alamo is a 27-year veteran of the Sacramento Fire Department, serving as a Fire Captain, Behavioral Health Coordinator, and HazMat Specialist with two decades on the department’s HazMat Team. He oversees behavioral health and peer support services for more than 700 members and is the handler for Ember, Sacramento Fire’s Critical Incident Stress K9. Richard’s work blends technical HazMat expertise with deep experience in first responder wellness, informed by both professional training and personal lived experience. He is a 15-time Ironman finisher, including the Ironman World Championship in Kona, giving him unique insight into human performance and resilience. He holds a B.S. in Health Science from Arizona State University and is pursuing a Master’s in Counseling Psychology at Jessup University. A dedicated husband and father, Richard’s mission is simple: to protect the people who protect the public.

C Scott Bunning

Biography : Scott has been with AristaTek for nearly 10 years as their Director of Marketing and Sales. In that time, he has trained 1000's of PEAC users all over the world on best practices in using the PEAC software in hazmat and CBRN scenarios.

Jeff Dill

Biography : In 2010, Jeff Dill founded Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA). Jeff travels the United States & Canada holding workshops to educate firefighters & EMS about behavioral health awareness and suicide prevention. In 2010, FBHA began tracking and validating data on all FF, EMS and dispatcher suicides across the United States. In addition, FBHA offers seven workshops for first responders, counselors/chaplains, family members and preparing for retirement. Jeff Dill holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling, is a retired Fire Captain at Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, Illinois. On July 1st, 2021 Jeff was appointed the new Behavioral Health Administrator for Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.

Robert Dunivin

Biography : Robert Dunivin has over 30 years fire service experience 22 of it with the Los Angles Fire Department. Currently Robert serves as a Fire Captain and has been assigned to the LAFD CBRNE/Hazmat Section JHAT Unit for the last 7 years. Robert has been a Hazmat Technician/ Specialist for most of his Fire Service Career and is also a Hazmat Specialist on CATF-1. He is also is a CSTI and CSFM Certified instructors and teaches a variety of subject throughout the State. Robert also serves as the Secretary for the Firescope Hazmat Sub-committee.

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.

Bob Suarez

Biography : Captain (Retired) Bob Suarez, Des Moines Fire Department, Special Operations Section Captain Suarez, until March 2025, was a member of the fire service in Iowa for over 26 years. For the last 13 years he managed the Des Moines Fire Department’s Hazmat, Technical and Water Rescue Teams, overseeing approximately 125 technicians. In addition to his work with DMFD, Captain Suarez travels the country teaching with a focus on hazmat and confined space rescue. Bob has been a Paramedic for over 20 years and holds a AAS in Fire Service Management, a BS in Emergency and Disaster Management and a MS in Security Studies from the prestigious Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. Captain Suarez’s fire career began as a volunteer with the Coralville Fire Department in 1996. He was hired as a full-time firefighter by the City of Cedar Rapids in 1998 where he served faithfully until 2002 when he was hired by the Des Moines Fire Department. Bob promoted through the ranks, and in addition to firefighter, held the rank of Medic and Lieutenant before being promoted to Captain in 2016. He has served as a member of the Hazmat Team since 2003. Bob Is a member of the NFPA 400 Committee and is recognized by the IAFF as a Master HazMat/WMD Instructor. Bob’s Interests outside of the fire service include exercise, Hawkeye wrestling, and the acoustic guitar. But without a doubt his favorite activity is spending time with his 3 (grown) children. He also believes that one of his best qualities is that he sucks at quitting.

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.