A number of distinguished speakers will be presenting at TSAC Conference 2013.
Speakers:
Mark Abel, PhD, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F
Mark Abel is a former firefighter and currently an Assistant Professor in the
Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion at the University of Kentucky.
Abel is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist®. He conducts research
to improve the health and performance of firefighters. He has served as a
paid-on-call firefighter and has participated in the Firefighter Combat
Challenge. Abel has experience training firefighters, athletes, and the general
public, and is the Chair of the NSCA’s TSAC Special Interest Group (SIG).
Brent Alvar, PhD
Brent Alvar holds the rank of Full Professor at
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU) in Provo, UT. Alvar is
also the Associate Dean of Research overseeing all areas related to the
scholarship of discovery at RMU. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning
Specialist® with Distinction, Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach with
Distinction and recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Sports
Medicine and Fellow of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. His
research focus is in the areas of physical activity related to human
performance, occupational preparedness (sports, firefighting and military) and
health-related benefits from resistance training.
Michael Barnes, MEd, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D
Michael Barnes has vast experience as a practitioner and educator in the field
of strength and conditioning over the past 25 years. He is a contributing
author to the NSCA’s upcoming “Essentials of Tactical Strength and Conditioning”
textbook. Additionally, his previous experience includes working in Division I
athletics, the National Football League (NFL), and professional fitness
education. He holds three of the most respected professional certifications in
the industry, as well as a Master’s degree in Exercise Science. He has
presented to coaches, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts of such organizations
as USA Triathlon, USA Rugby, the World Class Athlete Program of the U.S. Army,
the NCAA, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, USA Judo, the U.S. Association of
Deaf and Blind Athletes, and many more. He has visited such countries as Japan,
Australia, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Greece, and Denmark educating, training, and
interacting with leaders in the fitness industry.
Nick Barringer, MS, RD, LD, CSSD, CSCS
Nick Barringer is an active duty Soldier with nearly 10 years of service in the
Army. He has deployed in support of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation
Enduring Freedom. He also served as the primary nutrition consultant for the
75th Ranger Regiment from 2007 – 2012. Barringer is currently attending Texas
A&M University pursuing a PhD in Exercise Physiology as part of the Army’s
Long-Term Health Education Training Program.
Neal Baumgartner, PhD
Neal Baumgartner is an Air Force (AF) exercise physiologist currently serving
as the Exercise Physiology/Physical Fitness Consultant to the Deputy Chief of
Staff for Manpower and Personnel (HAF/A1) for the AF Fitness Program. He
provides exercise physiology, human performance, and physical fitness research,
consultation, guidance, and training instruction to HQ AF leadership and staff
to include development of criterion-based physical fitness testing requirements
and standards. Additionally, he serves as Program Director for Force Fitness responsible
for managing human performance physical fitness initiatives for HQ Air
Education and Training Command (AETC) to improve and maintain optimal physical
fitness of USAF Airmen to include Special Operations Battlefield Airmen.
Baumgartner served as an active duty Air Force Aerospace Physiologist and
retired in 2001. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the USAF
Academy, and Master of Science and PhD degrees in Exercise Physiology from the
University of New Mexico and the University of Texas at Austin, respectively.
John Bennett, MS, EMT-P, CSCS
Lieutenant John Bennett is the Tactical Fitness & Readiness Program
Coordinator for Seminole County Fire Department and chairs the 12-agency
Central Florida Firefighter Fitness Collaborative, where they promote
agency-to-agency mentoring and focus on advancing a clear framework for running
a readiness program. He instructs Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology at the
University of Central Florida. He also co-owns The Playground, a local challenge
race and alternative sport training company that also operates the TACFIRE
Program in military-fire-law enforcement fitness training.
Hal
Breedlove, OD
Hal Breedlove is a life-long resident of Virginia Beach, graduated from First
Colonial High School, and received his Bachelor’s degree from Randolph-Macon
College. He attended the Southern College of Optometry where he earned his
Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. He started Coastal Vision in 1984, which has
grown to four locations, making it one of the largest private practices in
Virginia. He is the developer of the Trained Observer Program, the Dominant Eye
Training System, the Sight Picture System, and the Tunnel Vision Trainer. He is
also the developer of the Vision and Shooting Seminar for Officer Education. He
is currently looking for additional ways to help the law enforcement community
develop visual performance programs to help promote successful scenarios.
Jonathan Carlock, MS, CSCS,*D
Jonathan Carlock currently serves as the Human Performance Coordinator for 5th
Special Forces Group (Airborne). Prior to his time working with these tactical
athletes, he worked for eight years as a strength and conditioning professional
for the United States Olympic Committee.
Jeff Carroll
Jeff Carroll is an employee with Vesa Health and implements programs and
progressive methodologies for the THOR3 Program, 2/75 Army Ranger Battalion.
His main duties are to support the focus of optimizing the physical and mental
conditioning of Army Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel. He is
responsible for training over 800 SOF personnel. Previously, he was the Head
Strength and Conditioning Coach at Eastern Washington University from 2008 –
2010 and was a Strength and Conditioning Assistant with the Seattle Seahawks
from 2005 – 2008.
Michael
Contreras, CSCS, USAW
Michael Contreras is a Paramedic Fire Captain and former Wellness and Fitness
Coordinator for the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) in Irvine, CA. He
worked for the OCFA for 23 years and held the rank of Firefighter, Firefighter
Paramedic, Fire Captain, and Fire Captain/Paramedic. He has had different
assignments for the OCFA, including a Training Officer, Recruit Academy
Instructor, Academy Fitness Coordinator, Academy Coordinator, Department Safety
Officer, Hazardous Material Technician, Safety Officer, Assistant Public
Information Officer, and is member of the department’s USAR team. Contreras is
a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) through the National
Strength and Conditioning Association, an ACE Certified Peer Fitness Trainer, a
USAW Performance Coach, CrossFit Certified Olympic Lifting Coach, a Russian
Kettlebell Certified Instructor, a Functional Movement Screen Instructor, and a
Concept II Certified Instructor. Contreras is a highly sought after speaker on
fitness and human performance in the Fire Service and has published several
articles on human performance in the Fire Service. He has trained numerous fire
departments, fire department personnel, police departments, and the U.S.
military, which includes Special Forces.
Gray Cook, PT, CSCS
Gray Cook is an influential figure in both rehabilitation and exercise. His
career started with an undergraduate degree in sports medicine and exercise
science with minors in athletic training and psychology. His interest took him
to the University of Miami where he studied physical therapy and furthered his
strength and conditioning development. It is no accident that he became a
certified strength coach and licensed physical therapist in the same year
because his work has targeted fundamental errors in the way that exercise and
rehabilitation have been practiced. Cook has introduced a systems approach to
understanding, training, and rehabilitating movement. Professional evolution is
often geared toward specialization but most highly specialized professions hit
a plateau and adopt an approach that incorporates systems that protect the user
against fundamental errors. Cook’s work cuts to the core of problems like low
back pain, obesity, and the general physical decline of a modern culture. By
revisiting the natural developmental principles that all infants employ as they
learn to walk, run, and climb, Cook forces us the rethink motor learning,
corrective exercise, and modern conditioning practices.
Amy Crawley, MS, CSCS
Amy Crawley is an Affiliate Professor in the Movement Science Department at
Grand Valley State University (GVSU). She did her undergrad specializing in
exercise science and psychology at University of Nebraska Omaha and her
Master’s degree in Heath Science at GVSU. She is a Certified Strength and
Conditioning Specialist® and currently serves as a consultant to the GVSU’s
police academy. She has been training athletes for over 12 years as individuals
and in team settings.
Ian Crosby, CSCS
Ian Crosby is in his 20th year with the Calgary Fire Department in Alberta,
Canada and currently serves as the Wellness and Fitness Coordinator for the
department’s more than 1,300 firefighters. He developed the department’s
Wellness Center which opened its doors in February 2005 becoming Canada’s 1st
such facility. His department accomplishments include five years as a rescue
diver on the Aquatic Specialist Team and five years as High Angle Rope Rescue
Specialist. Crosby is a Wellness Fitness Initiative technical committee member
for the IAFF and is an instructor for the IAFF/IAFC WFI PFT program. He
obtained a Bachelor of Physical Education degree from the University of Calgary
in 1990. He served two years as the Provincial Director for the National
Strength and Conditioning Association. He is a Certified Exercise Physiologist
(CEP) and member of the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology and he is an
instructor and faculty member for the American Council on Exercise.
Paul Davis, PhD
Paul Davis is a graduate of the University of Maryland’s School of Public
Health and is the creator of the Firefighter Combat Challenge®, the 22-year old
sports competition touted by ESPN as the “Toughest Two Minutes in Sports.” An
internationally renowned expert witness with over 60 appearances in state and
federal courts, Davis was heralded by the sitting federal judge in the seminal
Lanning v SEPTA case as, “...preeminent in his field” of physical and medical
standards. He is a former firefighter-paramedic and co-author of the definitive
textbook, “Hard Work: Defining Physically Demanding Jobs” with Dr. Brian
Sharkey.
Thor Eells, MCJ
Commander Thor Eells has more than 25 years of law enforcement experience with
the Colorado Springs, CO Police Department. He has served in patrol,
investigations, and SWAT. Much of his career has been in tactical operations
where he has served as a SWAT operator, Team Commander, and Division Commander.
Commander Eells helped in the creation of the original TSAC program and is a
member of the TSAC Program Advisory Council. He is currently a Board Member of
the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) and was one of the core
members in developing the National SWAT Standards. Commander Eells is a
graduate of the University of Colorado and has a Master’s degree in Criminal
Justice (MCJ). He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Center for
Creative Leadership.
Darin Elkins
Sergeant First Class Darin Elkins is a native of Los Angeles, CA. He entered
the Army in June 1989. He attended Basic Training at Fort Sill, OK and completed
AIT as a Physical Therapy Technician, 91J at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
He has served one combat tour in the Republic of Iraq in support of Operations
Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. Before coming to The Office of The Surgeon General
to serve as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Rehabilitation and
Reintegration Division, he served as the BGE S3 Operations NCO at 65th MED BDE
in Yongsan, Korea. Elkins has served as a Combat Physical Therapy Technician,
Clinical NCOIC, and Operations NCO. He has served in various leadership
positions that include, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and First Sergeant. He
has performed as a Combat Medic AIT Instructor, Physical Therapy Technician
Instructor/NCOIC, Physical Disability Liaison, Human Resource Command Reserve
Component Transition Liaison and Basic Officer Leadership Course Enlisted
Advisor. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration from Touro
University and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree through the University
of California-Pennsylvania. He earned an Associate degree in Applied Science
from Houston Community College. He has also been licensed since 1996 as a
Physical Therapy Assistant in Texas.
Chris Frankel, MS
Chris Frankel is an exercise physiologist, teacher, and strength and conditioning
coach with over 30 years experience in the field. Before taking the position of
Head of Human Performance for TRX, he was an instructor in the department of
Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences at the University of New Mexico. Frankel
consults with collegiate and professional sports team and branches of the U.S.
military on topics related to fitness, performance, and exercise testing.
David Frost, PhD
David Frost received his PhD in Biomechanics from the University of Waterloo
and currently lectures in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at
the University of Toronto. Having worked as a strength and conditioning coach
and an injury prevention and performance consultant to organizations in Canada,
the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, Frost’s teaching and research
activities are directly informed by the challenges faced by practitioners. He
has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles pertaining to the physical
preparation of tactical athletes and written a book on injury prevention and
human performance for the International Association of Firefighters. His
current work focuses on the development of training strategies to enhance and
maintain the capacity of the tactical athlete such that they can withstand the
physical demands of their lives.
Gaëtan Girard, MS
Gaëtan Girard had been in charge of the RCMP National Fitness & Lifestyle
Program since 2003. He works with a team of Certified Exercise Physiologists in
promoting “Fitness for Duty” for police officers across Canada. He is also a
part-time professor in Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa. He joined
the RCMP in 1996 as a Fitness & Lifestyle Advisor for the Quebec Division.
Girard holds a Master’s degree in Health Promotion from the University of
Montréal and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Education from Bowling Green State
University.
Brad Hartman
Brad Hartman has been a part of the FMS team since December 2009. He was first introduced to FMS at Averett University, where received his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Masters in Business Administration. Currently, Brad handles many positions within FMS; however, he is most passionate being the Human Performance Manager, which has locations in both Virginia and New Jersey.
Paul Henning, PhD, CSCS
Captain Paul Henning is a research physiologist in the Military Performance
Division at the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
(USARIEM), Natick, MA, the Army’s premier research organization for warfighter
performance and environmental medicine. Henning’s research supports medical
research and material command task area: Physiological mechanisms of
musculoskeletal injuries. Henning received his Doctorate in Exercise Physiology
from Florida State University in December 2010. His research at Florida State
University focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate
myofiber size in response to aging, catabolic stress, and nutritional
interventions. His prior active duty experience was as a field medical officer
while assigned to the First Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, TX. He completed
various assignments with the Cavalry and completed two combat tours in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2004 – 2005 and 2006 – 2008).
John Hofman, MS, CSCS, USAW-1
John Hofman is one of the leading experts in the field of firefighter health
and wellness. As the strength and conditioning coach for the Sacramento Fire
Department (SFD), Hofman oversees the SFD Wellness Center, coordinates the
department’s medical and fitness assessments, develops recruit fitness
training, completes pre-employment medical and fitness evaluations, and assists
the department’s 20 certified Peer Fitness Trainers. In addition, Hofman also
works as the strength and conditioning coach for the California Regional Fire
Academy, Sierra Fire Technology Program, Rocklin Fire Department, and South
Placer Fire District. He also consults with the Fire Authority Self Insurance
System of California.
Zar Horton
Zar is a 23 year member of the Albuquerque Fire Department and currently a Battalion Chief. He has helped implement Albuquerque Fire Department Health and Wellness Initiative, reformed his department’s Academy Cadet P.T. Program to better prepare firefighters for job conditions. Since 2004 he has trained hundreds of firefighters on the use of kettle bells and their tactical relevance. He is the Senior Instructor for Pavel Tsatsouline’s StrongFirst organization and owner of FIREBELLZ Russian Kettlebell studio.
Travis Ireland, MS, ATC, CSCS
For the last 14 years, Travis R. Ireland has managed the Physical Fitness
Program for the Los Alamos National Laboratory Protective Force. He has
implemented several successful programmatic improvements with the most recent
being a Sports Medicine Program for the Protective Force. He has 20-years of
experience with Human Performance and Athletic Training supporting high school,
collegiate, professional baseball, and Olympic athletes. He has earned
certification from the NATA, NSCA, ACSM, and FMS, and holds a Master’s degree
in Exercise Science from The University of Memphis, and a Bachelor’s degree in
Athletic Training from New Mexico State University.
William Kraemer, PhD, CSCS,*D FNSCA
William Kraemer is a Full Professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the
Neag School of Education working in the Human Performance Laboratory at the
University of Connecticut. He also holds appointments as a Full Professor in
the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology and as a Professor of Medicine at
the University of Connecticut School of Medicine Center on Aging. He was
President of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and was
honored by the NSCA with both their Outstanding Sports Scientist Award in 1992
and the NSCA’s highest award, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994 for his
contributions of bringing science into the field of strength and conditioning.
He was named the “Educator of the Year” by the NSCA in 2002. He was also among
the first group of Fellows for the NSCA. Kraemer is the current Editor-In-Chief
of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning. He has authored and co-authored
over 360 peer-reviewed manuscripts in the scientific literature on sport
science, resistance training, and endocrinology of exercise. In addition, he
has authored or co-authored 10 books in the areas of strength training and
physiology of exercise. He was awarded the University of Connecticut’s Research
Medal in 2005. He was also honored by the NSCA with a named award in 2006, the
“William J. Kraemer Outstanding Sport Scientist Award.”
Melissa Laughlin
Melissa joined the FMS team in July of 2011. She received her bachelors degree in business administration from Roanoke College. Since graduating she has gained valuable experience working in the fitness industry. As the FMS communications coordinator, Melissa handles any questions pertaining to the website, seminars, and general knowledge of the FMS.
Guy Leahy, MS, CSCS,*D
Guy Leahy is currently serving as the exercise physiologist at Davis-Monthan
Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ. Leahy is a member of the ACSM (American College
of Sports Medicine), NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association), and
is CSCS® certified. Leahy is the author/co-author of over 30 professional
articles, including original research which has appeared in publications such
as the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, TSAC Report, Medicine and
Science in Sports and Exercise, Nature, Science, and Scientific American. Leahy
is also a columnist for the TSAC Report. He has presented at several
conferences, most recently at the 2012 NSCA and ACSM Annual Meetings. He was
also a guest speaker at the 2012 TSAC Conference. Leahy holds a Master of
Education degree from Western Washington University and a Bachelor of Science
degree from the University of Oregon.
Syl Lemelin, MSc
Syl Lemelin is a University of Manitoba graduate. He completed his Bachelor’s
degree in Physical Education in 1992, and his Master of Science degree in
Biomechanics in 1995. He joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1996 as a
Division Fitness & Lifestyle Advisor for “D” Division (Manitoba). In 2004,
he expanded his service to “V” Division (Nunavut). Based in Winnipeg, Lemelin
works with 1,230 police officers, and 450 support employees who are located in
112 different locations across Manitoba and Nunavut. His mandate is to manage
and administer occupational physical abilities testing on both incumbents and
recruits, and develop fitness plans for all employees, including specialized units.
In addition, he manages fitness facilities, and develops resources and
initiatives to promote and facilitate fitness for duty and workplace wellness.
Kevin Malley, MS
Kevin Malley served on the New York Fire Department as a Firefighter/Fire
Officer from 1979-1996, and in 1996, he became FDNY’s Director of Human
Performance. Malley was on the World Trade Center Investigation (Team 8). He
was a guest researcher for the Physical & Physiological Consequences of
Firefighting. He earned Master’s degrees in Exercise Physiology and Applied
Physiology from Queens College and Columbia University.
Joe Martin, PhD
Joe Martin’s elite fitness level started in 1978 when he joined the U.S. Navy.
Shortly after joining the Navy, he successfully completed the Navy’s SEAL
training program. After spending six years in the Navy, Martin pursued his
fitness career by getting an undergraduate education in Exercise Science and
Nutrition from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. He then continued his
education in the healthcare field by attending Life Chiropractic–West in
Hayward, CA, and getting his Doctorate in Chiropractic. Since graduating from
Chiropractic College, Martin has continued excelling in the sports
rehabilitation field. He has worked on all levels of athletes from professional
and Olympic-level to collegiate and elite high school-level athletes. Martin
has presented nationally and internationally, and received numerous awards for
Faculty Doctor of the Year and Quarter. He has over six years working
experience within the military field, teaching suspension training, functional
fitness, and injury prevention to various military branches including the Army,
Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corp Special Forces groups.
Ryan Massimo, CSCS, USAW-1
Ryan Massimo has been coaching for more than 13 years with a direct emphasis on
improving functional fitness performance with regard to speed, power, agility,
strength, and injury prevention. Massimo is currently the Combat Fitness
Program Manager for the United States Marine Corps (USMC), Headquarters, Semper
Fit. Massimo was recently the Fitness Director at George Mason University (GMU)
in Fairfax, VA prior to joining the USMC in September of 2010. Prior to his
stint at GMU, Massimo was the Sports Performance Director and Center Director
at Velocity Sports Performance in Ashburn, VA where he was in charge of all
sports performance training and was the main provider of sports performance
training for all professional and elite-level athletes. Prior to joining the
Ashburn team, Massimo was at Duke University where he was the Olympic Sports
Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. In this capacity, he supervised and
coached more than 300 athletes competing in 15 of the Blue Devil Olympic
sports. Massimo is a native of Bradenton, FL and graduated with a Bachelor’s
degree in Exercise and Sports Science with a Health and Fitness specialization
from East Carolina University (ECU), where he was also captain of their
baseball team. Out of ECU, he played professionally with the Major League Baseball
(MLB) team, the Atlanta Braves. He then worked as the strength and conditioning
coach for the Cincinnati Reds’ double-A affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts.
Massimo is a recognized Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist®
(CSCS®), and Club Level 1 Coach from USAW.
Brian
McGuire, MS, ATC, CSCS
Brian McGuire (Colonel, USMCR) serves as Physical Readiness Programs Officer
for the Marine Corps at Training and Education Command in Quantico, VA. He is
responsible for oversight of programs and policies related to USMC Physical
Fitness Testing/Combat Fitness Testing, Water Survival, and Sports
Medicine/Injury Prevention. He has served in this capacity since 2001. Prior to
this position, he worked at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, from 1997 – 2001
as the Associate Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine. From 1993 – 1997 he
was employed by the Emory Clinic Department of Orthopedics as the Staff
Athletic Trainer. During the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA, he was the
Chief Athletic Trainer for Rowing and Canoe/Kayak (Sprint) at Lake Lanier. He
has been an augment Athletic Trainer and Strength Coach for the Indianapolis
Colts of the National Football League (NFL) during summer training camps since
2006. Since 2008, he has worked as a Staff Athletic Trainer for the annual NFL
Scouting Combine. In the Marine Corps Reserve since 1983, he served in
Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005 – 2006 and currently is the Officer-in-Charge
of the Reserve Detachment in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the U.S.
Pentagon. He graduated from Salisbury University in 1985 with a Bachelor of
Science degree in Physical Education and earned a Master of Science degree in
Exercise Science from Georgia State University in 2001. He has earned
certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA),
National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), American College of Sports
Medicine (ACSM), CrossFit and as a U.S. Army Master Fitness Trainer.
Jay
Merlino, MS, CSCS
Jay Merlino is currently a contracted strength and conditioning coach for the
United States Army Special Operations Command. He was formerly a strength coach
in the National Football League (NFL) with the Philadelphia Eagles for eight
years, and prior to that, he was a strength coach at the University of Delaware
for two years. He holds a Master’s degree in Health Promotion, and a Bachelor’s
degree and Associate degree in Exercise Science. He has presented at numerous
NSCA conferences and has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist®
since 2003, and is also a Certified Functional Movement Screening Specialist.
Merlino has also owned and operated his own performance training company in the
private sector where he has worked with and consulted tactical athletes and
government agencies on human performance.
Jill Napoletan Craig, MS, IAFF-PFT
Jill Napoletan Craig is the Wellness/Fitness Coordinator and lead exercise
physiologist for the Austin Fire Department. She holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Denver and a Master of Science degree in Sports
Medicine from Chapman University (Orange, CA). She completed her graduate work
in Colorado Springs, CO, home of the Olympic Training Center and the U.S. Air
Force Academy. She conducted her thesis in Vail, CO on the rehabilitation of
ACL reconstruction in skiers. Craig serves as technical advisor to the
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and to the task force that
authored the IAFF-IAFC Fire Service Wellness-Fitness Initiative. She also
participated in the development and validation of the Fire Service Candidate
Physical Ability Test (CPAT) and the Peer Fitness Trainer Certification
curriculum. Since 1996, she has worked to bring a comprehensive wellness and
fitness program to AFD, including medical surveillance, fitness maintenance,
behavioral support, and rehabilitation. She has authored several articles
relating to wellness and fitness in the fire service, and conducted and
published research on the metabolic cost of water vs. land exercise, the
metabolic cost of firefighting tasks, a comparison of four methods of
estimating body composition, and most recently on the prediction of maximum VO2
by submaximal treadmill and stepmill tests for firefighters. Her affiliations
and certifications include IAFF-IAFC Peer Fitness Trainer Instructor, Hardstyle
Kettlebell Certified Instructor, CF-L1 Trainer, TRX-Sports Medicine Trainer and
ACSM member.
Brad Nindl, PhD
Brad Nindl is currently the scientific advisor at the Army Institute of Public
Health for the Army Public Health Command. Nindl formerly served as a research
physiologist with responsibility as the Performance Physiology Team Leader in
the Military Performance Division at the United States Army Research Institute
of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) in Natick, MA and as Task Area Manager for
Physiological Mechanisms of Musculoskeletal Injuries for the United States Army
Medical Research and Material Command (MRMC) in Fort Detrick, MD. Nindl
graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH in 1985, received a
Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY in 1989, a
Master’s degree in Physiology of Exercise from Springfield College in
Springfield, MA in 1993, and a Doctorate in Integrative Physiology with a focus
in endocrine physiology in 1999. Nindl is a Fellow in the American College of
Sports Medicine (ACSM) and holds Adjunct Professor positions at Springfield
College, the University of Connecticut and the University of North
Carolina-Greensboro and recently was an invited visiting professor at the
Department of Biology of Physical Activity Neuromuscular Research Center at the
University of Jyvaskyla, Finland where he participated in physiological studies
in muscle damage and recovery with the Finnish Defense Forces in 2009.
Rob Orr, PhD
Having served in the Australian Army as a uniformed infantry soldier, physical
training instructor, physiotherapist, and human performance officer, Rob Orr
recently accepted a position at Bond University. While still serving as a
reserve officer, his academic fields of research include physical conditioning
and injury prevention for military and protective services spanning from the
initial trainee to the elite warrior. Currently focusing on tactical load
carriage, Orr is exploring means of reducing injuries associated with load
carriage tasks and improving the mobility and lethality of soldiers and
tactical police. Published in newspapers, magazines, and peer-reviewed
journals, Orr is regularly invited to present at conferences both nationally
and internationally.
Randy Park, PhD
Randy Park is an Industrial/Organizational psychologist with the U.S. Customs & Border Protection. Over the past 20 years, he has conducted job studies, validation studies and built assessments for Federal law enforcement occupations. For the last five years, his work has focused on integrating the methodology to simultaneously support the development of legally-defensible cognitive and physical assessments. Prior to this, he worked as a civilian researcher for the Departments of the Air Force, Army, and Defense, in support of entry-level military personnel policies.
CDR David Peterson, MS
David Peterson has served in the U.S. Navy for 15 years, active duty. He earned
a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and is currently working toward an EdD
in Sports Management. He was previously assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Physical
Readiness Program (OPNAV N135) as the Command Fitness Leader (CFL), Program
Manager, and Research Officer. As the OPNAV N135 Research Officer, Peterson
spearheaded several new Physical Readiness Test (PRT) and Body Composition
Analysis (BCA) initiatives to include the PRT beta test. Commander Peterson is
now assigned as the Director of the Aviation Survival Training Center at Naval
Air Station Patuxent River, MD. The purpose of aviation survival training is to
prepare current and prospective flight crews for the dangers associated with
flying.
Luc Poirier, CSCS
Luc Poirier obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of
Sherbrooke in 2001. After working as a weight trainer, teaching physical
education in college, and working in a hospital in rehabilitation, Poirier
joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 2003 as a Division Fitness
& Lifestyle Adviser (DFLA) for “C” Division. Based in Montreal, he worked
with a population of 1,000 police officers and 600 support employees spread
across the province in 28 different locations. The role of the DFLA is to
administer police occupational test to members and recruits, prescribe fitness
plans to employees and specialized units, take care of the 28 fitness rooms in
the division (buy/maintain equipment), and create a support initiative to
promote fitness and wellness in the workplace.
Matthew Rodda
Sergeant Matthew Rodda is a Royal Air Force Physical Training Instructor and
Exercise Therapist currently based at RAF Honington in Suffolk, the home of the
RAF Regiment. His current role is Senior NCO in which he delivers physical
education to trainee gunners, junior officers, and a plethora of further
training courses including the arduous pre-para selection course. He is
instrumental in the research and development for strength and conditioning for
the RAF Regiment, and one of the primary instigators of the RAF Tactical
Athlete Program. This has allowed him to work alongside the Royal Marines and
RAF Regiment with various deployments across the world. His educational
background includes an Honours degree in Sports Science and Coaching which has
assisted in his development and programming of trainee courses at his current unit.
Personal achievements include being the first Cornishman to swim solo across
the English Channel, being a Navy Novice Heavyweight Boxing Champion, RAF
Heavyweight Novice Judo Champion and partaking in various ultra-endurance
events.
Sergio Rojas, CNS, CSCS
In addition to being the owner of Redefined Fitness and Physical Therapy,
Sergio Rojas is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® through the
NSCA, and is one of less than 100 fitness trainers that have completed the
Fellowship of Applied Functional Science (FAFS), which was used in redesigning
much of the training for the U.S. Navy SEALs as an injury prevention and
performance enhancement model. He has worked with professional and collegiate
athletes, as well as Coral Gables police officers, Chicago police officers, and
Illinois State Troopers with injury prevention and peak performance programs.
He is the former Executive Director of the President’s Council on Fitness and
Sports, as well as the former strength and conditioning coach for the Chicago
Sky (WNBA). He has a regular fitness segment on NBC in Chicago, and is a
regular contributor for Men’s Fitness magazine.
Katie Sell, PhD, CSCS,*D
Katie Sell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Professions
and Kinesiology at Hofstra University. She currently teaches undergraduate and
graduate courses in exercise physiology, physical fitness assessment, and
exercise programming. Her primary research interests lie in the area of
physical fitness assessment and exercise programming for wildland firefighters
and law enforcement personnel. She is currently on the NSCA Tactical Strength
and Conditioning SIG Executive Council.
Ross Sherman, PhD
Ross Sherman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Movement Science at
Grand Valley State University. He received his Master’s degree in Exercise
Physiology from Loughborough University, UK, and his Doctorate in Exercise
Physiology from the University of Bath, UK. Sherman is a regular presenter,
both nationally and internationally, on topics related to exercise and sport in
environmental extremes, hydration, and performance. He has extensive experience
with physiological testing of amateur and elite athletes in a range of sports,
and is currently acting as a consultant to a number of collegiate sports teams
and also to Grand Valley State’s police academy.
Rob Skinner, MS, RD, CSSD
Rob Skinner is the performance dietitian/exercise physiologist for NSWDG. Previously he was the Director of Sports Nutrition at the University of Virginia Athletics for three seasons and spent ten years working with student-athletes at Georgia Tech Athletic Association. Mr. Skinner has authored/co-authored several publications, including the chapters on Ergogenic Aids and Working with the Collegiate Athlete in the ADA publication, Sports Nutrition: A Guide for the Professional
Working with Active People, and Working with the Collegiate Athlete and Weight and body focused sports.
Stew Smith, CSCS
Stew Smith is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, a former Navy SEAL, and
author of several fitness books such as, “The Complete Guide to Navy SEAL
Fitness” and “SWAT Fitness and Fire Fighter CPAT/Occupational Assessment
Workouts.” Smith has trained thousands of students for Navy SEAL, Special
Forces, SWAT, FBI, ERT and many other military, law enforcement and firefighter
professions. He is currently the Special Ops team coach at the U.S. Naval
Academy that prepares future candidates for SEAL, EOD, and MARSOC training and
runs a non-profit called Heroes of Tomorrow where he trains people seeking
tactical professions.
Tony Soika, MS, CSCS, TSAC-F
Captain Tony Soika has a unique background in both the military and strength
and conditioning settings. He currently commands a company of 241 soldiers at
Fort Jackson, SC. Prior to this assignment he served as the Training Management
Officer at the U.S. Army Physical Fitness School where he worked on redesigning
the Army Physical Fitness Test and rewriting the army fitness manual. He has
been a CSCS® since 1996, has served as a strength coach in Division I
athletics, and trained athletes at every level from high school to the NFL and
NBA.
Garth
Spendiff, MS, CSCS
Garth Spendiff works as an Exercise Physiologist for U.S. Customs and Border
Protection. Spendiff previously served as the Chief Combatives and PT
Instructor for the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, and spent eight years teaching
graduate and undergraduate courses in Exercise Physiology, Nutrition, and
Health at Georgia Southern University and Armstrong Atlantic State University.
He is a highly regarded Certified Instructor of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Law
Enforcement Controlled Tactics, and Modern Army Combatives.
Jason Steere, DPT, ATC, CSCS
Jason Steere is a contract employee of MedTrust, LLC for the THOR3 Program,
2/75th Ranger Battalion. He collaborates with strength and conditioning coaches
and other rehabilitation specialists to provide the 2/75th Battalion with
optimal rehabilitation and conditioning for operational readiness. Prior to his
work with the military, Steere worked side-by-side with strength and
conditioning professionals and athletic trainers as a member of various sports
medicine teams in professional baseball, collegiate, and high school
environments.
Mark Stephenson, MS, ATC, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F
Mark Stephenson has been in the field of human performance for over 23 years. Currently,
he serves as the Director of the Human Performance Program at a special
operations unit for the Department of Defense (DoD). He is responsible for all
aspects of human performance that include strength and conditioning, nutrition,
mental conditioning, research, and sports medicine. Stephenson serves as a
Subject Matter Expert (SME) in tactical physiology to various components of the
U.S. Special Operations Command. He has served in many areas that include high
school, collegiate, and professional sports. He was formerly the Head Strength
and Conditioning Coach for Providence College before accepting the position of
Director of the Performance Center at the National Strength and Conditioning
Association (NSCA). While at the NSCA, he served as the Head Strength and
Conditioning Coach for Colorado College Men’s Ice Hockey. Also, while at the
NSCA, Stephenson created and founded the NSCA’s Tactical Strength and
Conditioning (TSAC) program and is currently a member of the TSAC Report
Editorial Review Board. Stephenson is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Sport
and Performance Psychology.
Mick Sterli, CSCS
Mick Stierli is a Sergeant with the New South Wales Police Force based in
Sydney, Australia where he is the Health and Fitness officer, Physical Training
Instructor’s Coordinator as well as a Weapons and Defensive Tactics Instructor.
He initiated the creation of the Physical Training Instructors program that was
designed, developed, and implemented within the organization including
curriculum development, training delivery, and mentoring of PTI’s across the
state. He has extensive experience working with elite athletes and is a member
of the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs NRL high performance unit where he is a
strength and conditioning coach. Stierli is frequently a sought after presenter
both in Australia and internationally, on topics such as human performance and
Tactical Strength and Conditioning. He has recently accepted a role as member
of the Editorial Panel for the NSCA’s TSAC Report and is the education
coordinator and international liaison for the Australian Strength and
Conditioning Association (ASCA) TSAC program.
John Sullivan, PhysD
John Sullivan is a leader in the field of Clinical Sport Psychology and Applied
Sports Science. He has worked in the National Football League for 12 years
coordinating clinical care, human performance technology, and facilitating the
League’s Rookie Success Program. He also provides clinical care and performance
psychology for athletes at Providence College, the University of Rhode Island,
and within the professional/elite ranks of the NBA, WNBA, MLS, Olympics, and
the Elite Performers of Military. Sullivan has worked as a mental health
professional for nineteen years and has provided professional services in a wide
variety of settings, and to a broad variety of athletes. He is an active member
of the Big East Conference Sports Medicine Society, and a frequent collaborator
with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He is currently one
of five national experts tapped by the NCAA to provide expert oversight for new
guidelines for the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook (to be revised for the spring
of 2012). In the fall of 2012, Sullivan will be part of a team of sports
medicine professionals writing the first consensus statement regarding the
treatment of mental health issues with student-athletes.
Tunde K. Szivak, MS
Tunde Szivak is a Doctoral student in the Kinesiology Department at the
University of Connecticut, under Dr. William Kraemer. She earned her Master’s
Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Connecticut in 2011. Prior to
that, Szivak served as an active duty officer in the Unites States Army from
2003 to 2009 after earning her commission from the United States Military
Academy (West Point) in 2003. During her time on active duty, she served on two
yearlong combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While at the
Academy, she also competed for the West Point powerlifting team, placing fifth
in her weight class at collegiate nationals in 2002 and 2003. She went on to
place first in her weight class at military nationals in 2004. Her past
experiences give her unique insight into the extraordinary demands placed on
soldiers and the physical capabilities required to meet them.
Mark
Taysom, MS, CSCS
Mark Taysom is currently a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® with
the Iron Horse Performance Optimization Program of the U.S. Army. Taysom has
co-created the Tactical Athlete Program (TAP) for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team
4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, CO. The TAP team trains
200+ soldiers a day in all aspects of weight training. The TAP team has
conducted 1,000s of fitness performance tests with the 4th Infantry Division
soldiers, as well as fitness screenings including the Functional Movement
Screening (FMS). Taysom has worked with professional athletic teams including
the Denver Broncos and Colorado Avalanche. He has also worked with Olympic
athletes at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Personally, Taysom
is a top-ten Strongman competitor in the world. Combining his years of
experience with top athletes and soldiers, Taysom adds his expertise of
Strongman events to give a unique perspective on utilizing strongman style
training with tactical populations.
Maria Urso, PhD, FACSM
Maria Urso is a principal investigator in the Military Performance Division at
the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM)
in Natick, MA. Her research focuses on the molecular basis of skeletal muscle
injury and performance and ways to mitigate relevant pathways. Urso conducts
research protocols in both animals and humans to test and validate therapeutic
efficacy, potency, selectivity, and mechanism of action of specific therapeutics
(pharmacological, nutritional, exercise-based, and gene therapy). These
therapeutics are planned for use in response to various insults including
damaging exercise, ischemia reperfusion (e.g., use of tourniquets, surgical
procedures), and blunt trauma. She also serves as an Associate Editor for the
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
Bradley Warr, PhD, MPAS
Major Bradley Warr joined the Military Performance Division of the U.S. Army
Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, in Natick, MA, as a Physician
Assistant (PA) Researcher in 2011, after earning his PhD from Arizona State
University. His work covers topics such as physical fitness changes, training
and medical resource utilization that occurs during deployment, foot strike characterization,
musculoskeletal injury reporting, and establishing valid fitness-for-duty
standards for the U.S. Army. He has deployed as a PA in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom twice (2004 – 2005, and 2007 – 2008).
Matt Wenning
Matthew Wenning is one of the best powerlifters of his generation, totaling
over 2,600 lb on various occasions, and winning top national and world-level
competitions. He was one of the youngest lifters to squat 900 lb, and one of
the youngest lifters to break an all-time world record 2,665 lb total and a
world squat record of 1,196 lb in the 308-lb weight class. Both his squat and
total are some of the best all-time records regardless of weight. He owns a
performance center in Columbus, OH called Ludus Magnus, and has worked with
multiple National Football League (NFL) players, U.S. Army Rangers,
firefighters, triathletes, and general populations. His experiences with
firefighters include being a Strength and Wellness Coordinator for Washington
Township Fire Department in Dublin OH, where he implemented a state-of-the-art
strength and conditioning program for over 130 firefighters. He lowered injury
rates and increased performance significantly for the department from 2008 to
present. He also has current contracts with the U.S. Army Special Forces to aid
them in training optimally. This led into major contracts with the Army itself,
and he served Ft. Carson 4th Brigade as the Director of Mountain Athlete
Warrior (MAW) program and is a co-founder of the program. Along with training firefighters,
and the U.S. Army, he also works with children with disabilities, seniors to
slow the aging process and give a higher quality of life, and others seeking
performance increases both on the field and on the sidelines. He currently
trains a handful of NFL players and is a consultant for many colleges, and some
professional sports teams. He has over 12,000 hr of experience as a Division I
college strength coach in a variety of sports including football, track,
swimming, and baseball. Through his 6-year college term, he received a Bachelor
of Science degree in Exercise Physiology in 2003, and a Master of Science
degree in Sport Biomechanics 2005.
Leonard Zaichkowsky, PhD
Leonard Zaichkowsky is a licensed psychologist who specializes in sport, exercise,
and performance psychology. For 37 years, he was a Professor at Boston
University with a joint appointment in the School of Education and School of
Medicine, Division of Psychiatry, and Division of Graduate Medical Sciences.
From 2010 to 2012, he was Director of Sport Science for the Vancouver Canucks
of the NHL. Currently, he is a sport science consultant for a number of
organizations. He was president of the Association for the Advancement of
Applied Sport Psychology (1997– 1999), a member of the Editorial Board of the
Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, and is currently section editor on
psychology for the International Journal of Health & Sport Science. He has
authored or edited six books including, “Medical and Psychological Aspects of
Sport & Exercise,” (2002). Zaichkowsky has published over 90 papers on
sport and performance psychology, sports medicine, research design, and related
topics in scholarly journals or books as well as numerous magazine and
newspaper columns. Additionally, he has made more than 300 professional
presentations worldwide and has made frequent expert commentary on television,
radio and the print media such as the New York Times, Boston Globe, Chicago
Tribune, LA Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Edmonton Journal,
Globe & Mail, and El Pais. His current research interests are in
psychophysiological self-regulation of performance stress using
biofeedback/neurofeedback, understanding the neural basis of elite performance
using fMRI methodology, and the development of “expert” performance across
domains. He has consulted with the U. S., Canadian, and Australian Olympic
Organizations, the NBA (Boston Celtics), MLB Players Association, NFL, NHL
Players Association, New England Patriots, Calgary Flames, Sydney (Australia) Swans,
and most recently with the Spanish World Cup Soccer Team, and Real Madrid
soccer club.