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 A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.
– Henry Adams

CMC School instructors are passionate, dedicated teaching professionals who bring high-level technical knowledge and real-life rescue experience to each and every class. Recognized as some of the industry’s most experienced rescue professionals, their highly effective hands-on training and emphasis on learn by doing sets the CMC School apart.

Collectively they possess more than 500 years of pride in professional service, and they’ve faced nearly every rescue situation imaginable. Individually they participate in advanced rescue training seminars and techniques, contribute to NFPA and ASTM committees shaping and setting industry standards, and work extensively with their respective state training organizations.

CMC School instructors are all members of emergency response units and actively answer the call to building collapses, mountain, industrial and underground rescue. They are trusted and respected teachers representing the industry’s best-practice techniques and equipment for emergency response professionals.

Alan Baker

Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1992
WITH CMC SINCE 1994

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Firefighter, Newport Beach (CA) Fire Department

Instructor, California State Fire Training 
• Rope Rescue Technician (Senior Instructor)
• Rescue Systems I and II (Senior Instructor)
• Trench Rescue Technician (Senior Instructor)
• Low-angle Rope Rescue Operations
• Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) Level 1

Member, California State Fire Training
• Trench Rescue Technician – Curriculum Development Working Group
• Rescue Systems 2 –
Working Group
Rescue Systems 1 – Working Group

 

Jim Bolton

Senior Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1987
WITH CMC SINCE 1998

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Operator / Paramedic, Reno (NV) Fire Department

Director, Reno (NV) Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue Team

Firefighter, Bend and Portland (OR) Fire Departments (previous)

Member, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team

 

 

Kelly Byrne

Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1993
WITH CMC SINCE  2013

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Owner / Founder, Rescue 2 Training

Firefighter, Washington (DC) Fire Department, Rescue 2

Instructor, Washington (DC) Fire Department, Special Operations Division

Member, Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT), Level III

John Camphouse

Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1982
WITH CMC SINCE 1993

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Instructor, Certified Mine Rescue, Federal Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA)

Member, Montrose Search and Rescue Team, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Member, Los Angeles County Underground Search and Rescue Team

Member, California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (CAL-OSHA) Mining and Tunneling Unit

Participation in more than 1,250 SAR Operations

 

Wayne Chapman

Senior Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1989
WITH CMC SINCE 1993

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Captain, Former Helicopter Crew Chief and FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Coordinator, Orange County (CA) Fire Authority

Instructor, FEMA, Structural Collapse Specialist, Certified Level II

Instructor
, California State Fire Training
• Rope Rescue Technician (Senior Instructor)
• Confined Space Rescue Technician (Senior Instructor)
• Rescue Systems I (Primary Instructor)
• Rescue Systems III (Senior Instructor)

Member, California State Fire Training
• Rope Rescue Technician Curriculum Development Working Group
• Confined Space Technician Working Group

Member, FEMA CATF-5 Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist

Member, California OES, Regional Task Force Working Group

Member, ASTM F-32 Committee on Search and Rescue

Member (non-voting), FEMA, Rescue Sub Group

Nationally Certified Rigger Level I and II (NCCCO)

 

Dan Claridge

Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 2001
WITH CMC SINCE 2014

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Firefighter Paramedic, City of Glendale Fire Department (CA)

Instructor
, California State Fire Training
• Rescue Systems I (Primary Instructor)
Rescue Systems II (Senior Instructor)
• Trench Rescue Technician (Senior Instructor)
• Low Angle Rope Rescue

Member, California Regional Task Force 4

Member, California OES, Regional Task Force Working Group

Dave Clarke

Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1976
WITH CMC SINCE 2017

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Fire Captain, City of Gresham (Oregon) Fire Department, 1987-2013

Fire Instructor
, Gateway Technical College

Team Leader, Gresham Fire Department, High Angle and Confined Space Rescue Team

Rescue Leader and Training Chair, Portland Mountain Rescue

Past President, Mountain Rescue Association

Jim Haakenson

Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1996
WITH CMC SINCE 2015

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Battalion Chief/Shift Commander, City of Waukesha Fire Department (WI)

Fire Instructor, Waukesha County (WI) Technical College

Member, Special Services Team

 

LeRoy Harbach

Senior Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1981 (retired)
WITH CMC SINCE 1999

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Firefighter, City of Waukesha (WI) Fire Department

Battalion Chief / Training Officer, Caledonia Fire Department

Member, City of Waukesha (WI) Special Services Team

Member, United States Air Force Reserve 

 

Dan “Kaz” Kazmierski

Senior Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1986
WITH CMC SINCE 1999

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Firefighter and Member, Heavy Urban Rescue Team, Milwaukee (WI) Fire Department

Assistant Chief Training Officer, Palmyra (WI) Fire Department

 

Justin Klopfenstein

Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 2001
WITH CMC SINCE 2015

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Captain, City of Oceanside Fire Department (CA)

Instructor
, California State Fire Training
• Confined Space Rescue Technician (Primary Instructor)
• Trench Rescue Technician (Senior Instructor)
• Low Angle Rope Rescue

Member, FEMA California Task Force 8

Stan Klopfenstein

Instructor

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES
Santa Fe Springs Fire Department since 1977
Division Chief (retired), Santa Fe Springs (CA) Fire Department
CMC – Technical Rescue Instructor since 1997

Instructor
,California State Fire Training
• Rescue Systems I (Primary Instructor)
Rescue Systems II (Senior Instructor)
• Confined Space Rescue Technician (Senior Instructor)
Trench Rescue Technician (Senior Instructor)
Low Angle Rope Rescue Operational (Primary Instructor)

Member,California State Fire Training
• Trench Rescue Technician – Curriculum Development Working Group (Chair of Committee)
Rescue Systems 2 – Working Group
• Rescue Systems 1 – Working Group

Doug McElmury

Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1981 (volunteer), 1989 (career)
WITH CMC SINCE 2017

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Fire Chief, Pleasant Prairie Fire & Rescue (Retired)

Fire Instructor
, Gateway Technical College

High Angle Training Coordinator,MABAS Division 4 and 5 Specialized Response Teams (previous)

Member, Kenosha County Specialized Response Teams

Lieutenant, Wheatland Fire Department (previous)

Firefighter EMT-I, Lake Geneva Fire Department (previous)

Firefighter EMT, Paris Fire and Rescue

John McKently

Director / Lead Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1974
WITH CMC SINCE 1995

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Director / Lead Instructor, CMC School

Instructor, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES)
• Search Management and Winter Search Management, California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certified

Instructor, Mine Rescue (MSHA)

Instructor, California State Fire Training
Rope Rescue Technician (Senior Instructor)
• Confined Space Rescue Technician (Senior Instructor)

Member, California State Fire Training
• Rope Rescue Technician Working Group
• Confined Space Technician Working Group

Member, Montrose (CA) Search and Rescue Team, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

 

Steve McNeil

Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1998
WITH CMC SINCE 2015

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Firefighter, Diablo Canyon Fire Department (CA)

Firefighter, San Luis Obispo County Fire (CA)

Industrial Firefighter, Phillips 66 (previous)

Member, Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (previous)

 

 

 

William (Bill) Proctor

Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1985
WITH CMC SINCE 2017

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Employed by Safety Access & Rescue since 2000

Instructor
, Wilderness / Industrial Rescue

Level 3 Rope Access Technician

Military Parachute Jump Instructor, 10 years

Mountain / Outdoor Instructor, Australian School of Mountaineering, 7 years

Scott Purdy

Instructor

YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE 1993
WITH CMC SINCE 2008

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Battalion Chief/Shift Commander, City of Waukesha (WI) Fire Department and Special Services Team

Fire Instructor, Waukesha County (WI) Technical College

 

Fred Salazar

Senior Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1990
WITH CMC SINCE 1995

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Firefighter / Paramedic, Colorado Springs (CO) Fire Department

Industrial Firefighter, Chevron Corporation

Instructor, National Center for Emergency Response for Surface Transportation (NCERTC)

 

Matt Scharper

Instructor

IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SINCE 1978
WITH CMC SINCE 2013

OCCUPATION / AGENCIES

Deputy Chief, State Search and Rescue Coordinator, California Govenor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES)
Law Enforcement Division

Course Coordinator, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES)
• Search Management and Winter Search Management, California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certified

Local SAR Team Instructor, Rope Rescue

Member, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Typing and Credentialing Committees; Search and Rescue, and Emergency Management

Member, State Search and Rescue Coordinators’ Council, past Vice Chairman

 

 

Improve Your Team, Advance Your Career with Rescue Training From Elite Instructors

CMC has long been recognized as the source on how to use technical rescue equipment, teaching their first contract rope rescue course in 1982. Though CMC’s Rescue School has a long rescue training history, it remains adaptive and in step with the evolution of rescue techniques, equipment and hardware; updating and revising their classes regularly to bring students the latest and best information on rope rescue techniques from their vast network of rescue professionals.

Advance your career with CMC School classes designed to suit your company’s needs and skill level. On the “Classes” page you can find training classes and class sessions with curriculums designed to deliver unique training tips, method of operations insights, safety standards requirements, efficient techniques and product research observations for your profession as a firefighter, SAR member, USAR team, water rescue guard, first responder or one of the many other work-at-height professions.

Some Training CLASSES Offered at CMC School

Rope Rescue Technician I / II
Covers rope rescue fundamentals, focusing on high and low angle rescue techniques. The course covers skills used in mountain, industrial, and confined space rescues.

Rope Rescue Technician III
Covers NFPA 1006 Rope Rescue – Technician Level Skills.

Confined Space Technician Rescue
Covers NFPA 1006 Confined Space Rescue – Technician Level.

Trench Rescue Technician
Covers Technician Level Trench & Evacuation Rescue Skills in NFPA 1006.

Emergency Building Shoring
Covers Technician Level Structural Collapse in NFPA 1006, and meets FEMA Specialists Requirements.

CMC School offers Contract Classes for increased learning opportunity

Custom classes can be tailored to specific needs and taught at your location. This allows teams to develop skills based on the rescue situations they are most likely to encounter. CMC School has developed custom classes for agencies and companies around the globe and in a variety of industries including:

  • Petroleum and Chemical
  • Tower and Communications
  • Theater and Entertainment
  • Government and Military
  • Airship and Aircraft Maintenance
  • Public Works and Utilities
  • Bridge Inspection and Maintenance
  • Construction and Sewer
  • Amusement Parks and Attractions
  • Wind Energy
  • Fire Rescue Training
  • Tower Rescue Training
  • Search and Rescue (SAR) Training
  • Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Training
  • Helicopter Rescue (Heli-Ops, Helo-Ops) Training
  • Air Rescue Operations Training
  • Swiftwater Rescue & Water Rescue Training
  • Tactical Maneuvers & Rescue Training
  • Rope Access Training
  • Rope Rigging Training

 

OTHER INSTRUCTORS

Alan Baker
In Professional Service Since 1992
Joined CMC in 1994

 

  • Firefighter, Newport Beach (Ca) Fire Department
  • Instructor, California State Fire Training
  • Rope Rescue Technician (Senior Instructor)
  • Rescue Systems I And Ii (Senior Instructor)
  • Trench Rescue Technician (Senior Instructor)
  • Low-Angle Rope Rescue Operations
  • Society Of Professional Rope Access Technicians (Sprat) Level 1
  • Member, California State Fire Training
  • Trench Rescue Technician – Curriculum Development Working Group
  • Rescue Systems 2 – Working Group
  • Rescue Systems 1 – Working Group
Kelly Byrne
In Professional Service Since 1993
Joined CMC in 2013
  • Owner / Founder, Rescue 2 Training
  • Firefighter, Washington (DC) Fire Department, Rescue 2
  • Instructor, Washington (DC) Fire Department, Special Operations Division
  • Member, Society Of Professional Rope Access Technicians (Sprat), Level III
John Camphouse
In Professional Service Since 1982
Joined CMC in 1993
  • Instructor, Certified Mine Rescue, Federal Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA)
  • Member, Montrose Search And Rescue Team, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
  • Member, Los Angeles County Underground Search And Rescue Team
  • Member, California Occupational Safety And Health Administration (Cal-OSHA) Mining And Tunneling Unit
  • Participation In More Than 1,250 SAR Operations

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