David Rhodes is a 26-year fire service veteran currently serving as a Battalion Chief with the City of Atlanta Fire Department.

He is a Chief Elder for the Georgia Smoke Diver Program, a member of the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) Executive Advisory Board, a Hands-on Training Coordinator for FDIC, an Editorial Advisor and author for Fire Engineering Magazine, an Adjunct Instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy, and an Advisory Board Member for Underwriters Laboratory Vertical Ventilation Study.

He serves as the Incident Commander for the Georgia Emergency Management - Metro Atlanta All Hazards Incident Management Team and is a Task Force Leader for the Georgia Search and Rescue Team.

He is president of Rhodes Consultants, Inc. which provides public safety training, consulting and promotional assessment centers.

Brent Hullender is a 19-year fire service veteran currently serving as the Captain of Engine 17 with the City of Atlanta Fire Department.  Brent was in Georgia Smoke Diver Class #30 in 1994 and Mississippi Smoke Diver Class #87 in 2009.

He is a Chief Elder for the Georgia Smoke Diver Program, a member of the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) Executive Advisory Board, a Hands-on Training Coordinator for FDIC, and an Adjunct Instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy.

Brent is a nationally recognized fire service instructor.  Some of his accomplishments include developing the Firefighter Assist & Survival Tactics Course (FAST) and teaching it throughout the country, as well as being a Lead Instructor for FDIC.

He is President of Atlantic Training Associates, Inc., which provides fire and technical rescue training to the fire service, military, and private industry.

Deputy Chief Philip A. Chovan (Ret.) currently is a Research and Teaching Associate at the Georgia Research Institute, specializing in the response to hazardous materials, weapons of mass destruction and risk management during field operations.

Formally, he was Chief of Staff and Operations Officer for the Marietta Department of Fire and Emergency Services.  He was the State Safety Officer and attached to the Special Operations Section for the Georgia Mutual Aid Group.

He has been Red Carded as an Incident Commander Type 3, Strike Team Leader [Crew/Military/Engine], Wildland Urban Specialist, Hazardous Materials Specialist, Water Handling Specialist, Unit Medical Leader, Structural Specialist and Terrorism Specialist by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.  He has been an active member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Atlanta Office - FBI, formally the National Disaster Preparedness Office on counter-terrorism response.

He is a graduate of Clemson University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.  He has taught extensively on the Federal, State and local level, specializing in hazardous materials response, incident management systems and business continuity.  He is a Certified Health and Safety Officer/Incident Safety Officer.  He has an Honorable Discharge from the military and has served with distinction on the prestigious Defense Science Board at the call of the President.

Don Sapp is a 35-year fire service veteran currently on staff at the Georgia Fire Academy as their Live Fire Instructor.  Formerly, Don served 25 years with the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department as a Sergeant and 10 years with Henry County Fire Department as a Lieutenant before retiring in September of 2011.

Don is an active member of the Axioms of Leadership and the Firefighters Laboring And Mastering Essential Skills (F.L.A.M.E.S.) programs.  While attending the F.L.A.M.E.S program Don received #126, the same number he received 29 years earlier from the Georgia Smoke Diver Program.

Don also works Logistics for the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC), is a Dive Master, Hazardous Materials Technician, NPQ Firefighter I & II, and is a member of the Georgia Firefighters Association.

Joel Yoder is 30-year fire service veteran currently serving as a Battalion Chief with the Rockdale County Fire Department.  He began his career with the City of Conyers Fire Department, where he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant at 21 years old, becoming one of the youngest fire officers in the state of Georgia.  His department consolidated with the county, where he was promoted to Captain in 2007 and Battalion Chief in 2010. 

Joel became a certified fire service instructor in 1983, and has served as an Adjunct Instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy and a Hands-on Instructor with Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC).  He has an AAS in Fire Science Technology.  In 2011 Joel was asked to serve as his department's Acting Fire Chief until a hiring process could be completed.

Daryl Purvine is a 27-year fire service veteran currently serving as a Lieutenant with the City of Smyrna Fire Department.  Daryl is an Elder for the Georgia Smoke Diver Program, a Fire Service Instructor, a Hazmat Technician, a Paramedic and a CPR Instructor.

Daryl once played football at the University of Alabama for legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Paul Linder is a 30-year fire service veteran currently serving as a Captain with the DeKalb County Fire Department and as the Deputy Chief of Operations for the Walker County Fire Department.  He formerly served as the Assistant Chief of Training for the Ft. Oglethorpe Fire Department.

His professional qualifications include NPQ Fire Officer IV, NPQ FF I and II, Safety Officer, Adjunct Instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy, certified POST Arson Investigator and certified Open Water Diver.  He is a member of the International Association of Firefighters, Georgia Fire Investigators Association, Georgia Fire Chiefs Association and the Georgia Firefighters Association.

Merv McDonald is a 24-year fire service veteran currently serving as the Captain of Engine 53 with the City of Marietta Fire Department, where he also leads the department’s Hazardous Materials Team.  He formerly served as the Deputy Chief of Fort Oglethorpe Fire and Rescue.

He is currently an Operations Section Chief with the Georgia Emergency Management - Metro Atlanta All Hazards Incident Management Team and a member of the Georgia Search and Rescue Metro Team.  Merv is a partner with MRJ Consulting specializing in assisting with ISO Fire Department Ratings and a Hands-on Instructor with Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC).