For the last few years, Peter Matthews has served as the Conference Director and Editor-in-Chief of FIREHOUSE(R). However, not many of us knew his extensive family and personal background in the fire service. And that doesn't even include many, many ride alongs over the years!

Peter shares with us that experience and how his current job in journalism actually began in high school where he wrote a public safety column for the local newspaper.  Sure, it is a long way from that high school newspaper to the main desk at FIREHOUSE (R), but the real interest is in his journey from there to where he is today with one of the largest fire service trades, as well as directing major conferences and of course, the FIREHOUSE.com website.
Below is an article that Peter wrote, not too long ago. We agreed that we should share it with you, as well: : https://www.firehouse.com/careers-education/article/12253921/40th-anniversary-a-humbling-rewarding-career

Chief Charles L. Werner (Charlottesville VA Fire Chief Emeritus) has served over 44 years in the fire service, 37 with the Charlottesville Fire Dept., serving the last ten years as Chief of Department and retired in 2015.

Chief Werner has served as the acting Deputy State Coordinator and Senior Advisor with the Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management, where he helped to facilitate VDEM's UAS program. Chief Werner also helped facilitate the Abermarle County Sheriff's Office SAR Team.

Chief Werner served as the first chair of the National Fire Protection Association's multi-discipline, technical committee on Public Safety UAS Standards. He currently serves as a public safety drone coordinator with the Virginia Dept. of Aviation, a member of the AUVSI Trusted Operator Program Steering Committee, Chair of the International Public Safety Association UAS Committee, SAE 30 Public Safety UAS Standards Committee, and Chair of the National Council on Public Safety UAS. He is also a certified FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot.

He can be reached on Social Media @WernerC or @droneresponders

Dr. Gamaliel Baer joined Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS) in 2008. From 2008 until 2018, he served in the field as a Firefighter/EMT. He spent five years at the busiest engine company and five years with Special Operations Division. While in Special Operations, he developed an Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (UROV) Program. The team has been used for regional responses and has conducted four body recoveries since it was launched in 2017. In January of 2018, during his doctoral studies, he was invited to serve at HCDFRS Headquarters where he launched the departments Health and Wellness program. As a Certified Health Coach, a Certified Personal Trainer, and a credential peer supporter, he led the Peer Fitness Program and the Peer Support Program, and taught health and wellness in the fire academy. While at headquarters he led the Peer Support Team through the department's first career Line of Duty Death. In the summer of 2020 he returned to the field but continues to teach and consult on health and wellness for both individuals and organizations. 
 
Since 2017 Dr. Baer has volunteered as a National Fallen Firefighters Foundation State Advocate. He is represents the NFFF both locally and nationally in fire service education and advocacy, as well as special projects development. He was a founding member of a permanent public safety health and wellness support group for the state of Maryland. He has delivered education and presentations at the local, state, and national level as keynote speaker, breakout room speaker, and panelist. He continues to participate in podcasts and webinars. 
 
Since 2012 Dr. Baer has served as a Coast Guard Reservist. He enlisted as an Intelligence Specialist and in 2016 received his commission as an officer. He served as an Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) to FEMA's National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) and was activated during the triple hurricanes of 2017 where he helped to coordinate critical life safety missions for Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands. He is now an Intelligence Officer at the USCG Intelligence Coordination Center which is the Coast Guard's strategic intelligence analysis and production center.
 
Dr. Baer is currently working on two book projects on health and wellness for the fire service. He has been married for 17 years to Dr. Nan Baer, PharmD. They have three children and one on the way. He holds a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Maryland, College Park, an M.S. in Management from Johns Hopkins University, and an Ed.D. in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California, where he earned the Dissertation of the Year award. In March of 2020, he received his Chief Training Officer Designee from CPSE. He is a mentor to doctoral students at the University of Southern California, firefighters in his department, and NFFF Advocates around the nation.
 
Dr. Baer can be reached at gdbaer@gmail.com or on Twitter @gamalielbaer.

Steve Hirsch is the Training Officer for Sheridan County Fire District #1, Thomas County Fire District #4 and Grinnell Fire Department, all of which are 100% volunteer fire departments.
Steve is the Chair and Kansas Director of the National Volunteer Fire Council and is currently, First, Vice-Chair pf the Kansas State Firefighters Association, after serving as Secretary from 2000-2018. His father started a rural fire district in north central Kansas in 1963, the year after Steve was born; so he grew up in the fire service!
Steve is also the county attorney in Decatur County in NW Kansas. He has a private law practice and serves as City Attorney for 18 cities in Norton, Phillips, Graham, Mitchell, Rawlins, Decatur, Sheridan, Thomas and Gove Counties in Kansas.

Todd LeDuc, MS, CFO, CEM, CLFire, is a 29year veteran of Broward County Florida Fire Service. He rose in the ranks from Paramedic to Executive Assistant Chief and is also a member of the IAFC-SHS Section. Currently, he serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for LifeScan Wellness Centers.
Todd is a peer reviewer for both professional credentialing and agency accreditation with the Center for Public Safety Excellence. He holds a Masters's degree in Fire Service Leadership, is a designated chief fire officer and certified emergency manager and holds Fellow status in the Institute of Fire Engineers. He publishes in the trades often and is a frequent and well-know presenter and local, regional and national fire conferences, He is on numerous advisory boards and has conducted consulting studies of public safety agencies in over a dozen states. He has been recognized by both the IAFC and the IAFF for his leadership on firefighter survival. He is also a Board member of the YMCA of South Florida and Healthy Mothers - Healthy Babies on Broward County.

Find him on Twitter @ToddJLeDuc

Jim Moss is a Captain at the Metro West Fire Protection District in St. Louis County, Missouri. He is the co-author of the bestselling book: Firefighter Functional Fitness. He is also the author of Firefighter Success: 20 C’s to Firefighter Excellence. Jim is a certified personal trainer, peer fitness trainer, and he shares his message nationally, speaking at major fire conferences and fire departments. 

Capt, Moss also just recently published his first book, "The Firefighter Success Book: 20 C's to Firefighter Excellence." (www.thefirefightersuccessbook.com) In it, Capt. Moss shares 20 core principals that, when followed appropriately, lead to firefighter excellence. Whether you aspire to be a firefighter, you're currently in the academy, your a "probie," a 3-year firefighter, 10 years, etc., a line officer or a chief, all of us can learn how  to not only be excellent firefighters, but better people, as well.
And when you're on the website, please remember to download his free list, "101 Rules for Firefighter Success!"