Owner/Firefighter
Tailboard Training Solutions, LLC
Washington Court House, OH
With 24 years in the fire service and 20 years in the pension system, this instructor brings extensive operational experience and instructional passion to the fireground and classroom. He has served in both volunteer and full-time roles across rural and suburban departments, providing a diverse perspective on today’s fire service challenges.
Throughout his career, he has held every position on the engine, from back seat firefighter to company officer and pump operator, allowing him to teach from real-world experience. A veteran of Ohio Task Force 1, he has operated in high-risk environments and personally experienced a mayday, shaping his practical approach to training and preparation.
He specializes in engine company operations and delivers hands-on instruction focused on improving performance from the moment wheels roll. In 2024, he founded Tailboard Training Solutions to provide mission-driven training nationwide and built a team of instructors committed to realism, relevance, and respect for the profession.
He is also actively involved with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, supporting line-of-duty death funerals and assisting families and departments during their most difficult moments. His mission is to provide experience-based training that helps firefighters make better decisions when it matters most.
When the wheels stop, the clock starts. This high-impact presentation breaks down the critical actions of the first-due engine and truck during the earliest and most chaotic moments of a fire.
With a focus on limited staffing environments, participants will explore aggressive yet calculated tactics, rapid decision-making, and the operational discipline needed to turn confusion into control. Attendees will learn how to maximize small-crew efficiency, establish initial command presence, prioritize life safety, and develop a scalable plan before additional resources arrive.
“Minute Zero” equips firefighters and company officers with the tools and mindset needed to set the fireground up for success, from the first breath of smoke to the final knockdown. Bring your questions, challenges, and experience—this session is designed to sharpen the tip of the spear.
When seconds count, guessing kills. This high-impact seminar cuts through opinion and tradition using real rescue data from the Firefighter Rescue Survey, UL FSRI studies, and modern fire behavior research.
We’ll break down where victims are actually found, why certain rooms matter more, and how to aggressively search with limited manpower and limited time. Attendees will learn actionable tactics—VEIS without the drama, oriented search that works, door control that buys survivability, and search sequencing that saves lives.
This class replaces outdated assumptions with evidence-based decision-making to put you where the victims really are, before it’s too late.
