1st Due Operations Conference

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Chief Alan Griffin has over 29 years of fire service experience.  He is currently the Fire Chief of Carolina Beach Fire Department where he has held that position for over 10 years.  Prior to this position he worked as the Emergency Services Director for Montgomery County, North Carolina for 5 years where he also served as the volunteer Fire Chief of Biscoe Fire Department. Chief Griffin began his paid career at Pinehurst Fire Department in 1995. Before his paid career, Alan volunteered for Seagrove Fire Department and throughout his professional emergency services career. Chief Griffin has over 25 years of teaching experience as a North Carolina certified instructor, he has delivered presentations to numerous fire departments, seminars, and large conference including 1st Due Operations conference, County Fire Tactics conference in Florida, and both North and South Carolina Fire Chief's conference. Alan is the owner of 1st Due Tactics, a company dedicated to improving and motivating today's fire service through quality instruction. 

Captain Todd Edwards (Ret.) has over 36 years of experience in the fire service. Starting his career at 16 years old with a small combination department in Ohio, Todd then moved to Georgia where he spent more than 30 years with Atlanta Fire Rescue. During his career with Atlanta, he held a variety of positions including Captain, Battalion Chief, and Assistant Fire Chief. While with Atlanta, Todd developed and taught the majority of the city training curriculum, and co-developed the city Standard Operating Guidelines.

After retiring in 2018, he served the city as a consultant and the lead instructor/coordinator for Atlanta’s Officer Development Program. While working with Atlanta, Todd was also the Lead Instructor for Walton County Fire Rescue in northeast Georgia. For the past 20 years, Todd has also been an adjunct instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy. Todd has also developed countless training programs currently being utilized by numerous departments, specializing in department-based curriculums for training and fire ground operations.

Steve has been in the fire service for 33 years, the last 29 of which have been with the Columbus Ohio Division of Fire. Steve currently serves as the Lieutenant on Engine Company 18 in the South Linden neighborhood of Columbus. Steve has been a classroom instructor at FDIC for the past several years teaching engine company operations. Additionally, Steve is the lead instructor of the FDIC HOT program Stretching For Success. Steve is an instructor for County Fire Tactics and has taught engine company tactics nationally. For the past 26 years, Steve has also been a state-certified Fire Safety instructor. He is also a past member of the State of Ohio Fire Training Committee.  

Chief Shannon Stone is a 25+ year veteran of the fire service working his way through the ranks and is currently the Division Chief of Operations at the Midway Fire District in Santa Rosa County Florida. He previously served and retired as an operational battalion chief with the Fort Walton Beach City Fire Department, located in the panhandle of Florida. 

Clyde Gordon is a District Chief with the City of Houston Fire Department. He has 36 years as a proven leader in the fire service and 30 years within the Houston Fire Department. Chief Gordon offers a unique blend of leadership, vision, and knowledge. He has a reputation for a strong work ethic, exceptional fire ground operations, and management, and building uncompromising integrity and responsibility in a crew.

Chief Gordon believes in continuous improvement of fire ground skills and operations through regular and consistent training. He is known for his teaching through honest and personal first-hand experience. Clyde spent over 10 years as an instructor with Lone Star College in Cypress, Texas.

In the fire service since 2003, Kevin has worked with volunteer, rural, suburban/urban fire departments and for many years as a member of St. Louis, MO USAR Task Force 5. Kevin is currently a Lieutenant for Horry County Fire Rescue in Myrtle Beach, SC. He held the rank of Captain and Training Coordinator/Officer for his previous department.

He is passionate about engine company operations and the proper mindset that will lead to success on the fire ground and in the firehouse. Kevin is a graduate of Columbia Southern University, the University of Missouri Fire Service Leadership Enhancement Program, and the Company Officer Program and holds many State Fire Safety Certifications. He is also a member of the Saltwater F.O.O.L.S. 

Captain Todd Edwards (Ret.) has over 36 years of experience in the fire service. Starting his career at 16 years old with a small combination department in Ohio, Todd then moved to Georgia where he spent more than 30 years with Atlanta Fire Rescue. During his career with Atlanta, he held a variety of positions including Captain, Battalion Chief, and Assistant Fire Chief. While with Atlanta, Todd developed and taught the majority of the city training curriculum, and co-developed the city Standard Operating Guidelines.

After retiring in 2018, he served the city as a consultant and the lead instructor/coordinator for Atlanta’s Officer Development Program. While working with Atlanta, Todd was also the Lead Instructor for Walton County Fire Rescue in northeast Georgia. For the past 20 years, Todd has also been an adjunct instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy. Todd has also developed countless training programs currently being utilized by numerous departments, specializing in department-based curriculums for training and fire ground operations.

 Chief Thompson entered the fire service in 1981. He has been formally practicing leadership and coaching fire officers and firefighters for the last 25 years. Chief Thompson has practiced leadership as an operations officer, training chief, emergency manager, Chief of Department, and Director of Public Safety. Thompson has held a leadership position in 2 volunteer and 5 career fire departments.

Thompson started his paid career assigned to one of the first organized hazardous materials teams in North Texas in 1986. He spent 10 years assigned to busy suburban fire companies, and as a division chief, he responded regionally to fire and rescue events. Thompson responded to the Delta 191 crash, tornadoes, wildland fires, mass casualty incidents, and a mid-rise building explosion. Thompson has been recognized in the region for his command and control practices.

Chief Thompson began his teaching career in 1986 at Collin College. He has taught at the Texas A&M University Fire School since 1996, and has been a hands on instructor (HOT), workshop, and classroom presenter at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) since 2002. Chief Thompson continues to attend training offerings around the country as a hands-on participant. 

Chief Alan Griffin has over 29 years of fire service experience.  He is currently the Fire Chief of Carolina Beach Fire Department where he has held that position for over 10 years.  Prior to this position he worked as the Emergency Services Director for Montgomery County, North Carolina for 5 years where he also served as the volunteer Fire Chief of Biscoe Fire Department. Chief Griffin began his paid career at Pinehurst Fire Department in 1995. Before his paid career, Alan volunteered for Seagrove Fire Department and throughout his professional emergency services career. Chief Griffin has over 25 years of teaching experience as a North Carolina certified instructor, he has delivered presentations to numerous fire departments, seminars, and large conference including 1st Due Operations conference, County Fire Tactics conference in Florida, and both North and South Carolina Fire Chief's conference. Alan is the owner of 1st Due Tactics, a company dedicated to improving and motivating today's fire service through quality instruction. 

Mo Davis is a District Chief with the City of Houston Fire Department and has over 25 years of fire service experience. Chief Davis holds a Master’s Degree, is a Master Firefighter, and is a Master Fire investigator.