Ziad Hameed is a dedicated firefighter and NFPA certified instructor with six years of frontline and instructional experience in the fire service. He began his career as a volunteer with Tiny Fire and Emergency Services after responding to a local recruitment call an opportunity that quickly evolved into a lifelong commitment to community protection and professional excellence.

Ziad has earned multiple NFPA certifications and maintains a strong commitment to operational readiness, physical fitness, and technical proficiency. He is recognized for fostering team cohesion and camaraderie, contributing to a culture of preparedness and mutual trust within the fire service.

His foundational training at Southwest Fire Academy solidified his passion for the profession and inspired his continued pursuit of mentorship and volunteerism. Committed to lifelong learning, Ziad is currently enrolled in the Fire Protection and Prevention Engineering program at Seneca College, expanding his expertise in fire science, prevention strategies, and system design.

In addition to active service, Ziad serves as an NFPA certified instructor with Waswanay Consulting, delivering fire service education and training to Indigenous communities across Canada. His instructional work focuses on building local capacity, enhancing emergency preparedness, and supporting the development of sustainable, community-led emergency services.

Originally from Baghdad, Iraq, Ziad brings resilience, perspective, and a deep sense of purpose to his profession, which is all part of his personal story.

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy 

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileygreenfitness

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

@rescue_squad_ironworks

@truenorthfools

@ffrescueontario

Brent Brooks is a fire service executive, researcher, and international advisor with over 30 years of experience. He currently serves as an Assistant Deputy Chief with the City of Fredericton and previously served as an Acting District Chief with Toronto Fire Services, specializing in highrise and complex-building operations. Brent is widely recognized for bridging frontline firefighting with building design, engineering, and policy. His career includes the development of innovative high-rise tactics, response plans, and equipment packages that have been adopted by multiple fire departments internationally. He has served as a subject matter expert on national and international standards, including contributions related to NFPA integration and complex incident operations. An active leader in the global fire service community, Brent is an advisor to FDIC International, a board member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (Canada), and a member of the Tall Building Fire Safety Network (T70) based in London, England. He is also a member of the Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU) and the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). He actively supports professional development and equity initiatives within the fire service, including Fire Service Women of Ontario (FSWO). And has spoken three times at the Fire and Life Safety Directors’ Association of Greater New York (FLSDA) symposium in Brooklyn. Brent is a frequent international speaker and published author, with contributions to Fire Engineering, Fire & Safety Journal, International Fire & Safety Journal, Fire Apparatus Magazine, and CTBUH conference proceedings. He is a co-author of The Book of Search and a regular panellist on Fire Engineering’s Humpday Hangout. He continues to donate his time to more than 100 fire departments worldwide in support of training, research, and firefighter safety.

@highrisefirefighting

@fdicindy

@nfpadotorg

@tallbuildingfiresafetynetwork

@fswo

@fireengineering

@countyfiretactics

@intfireandsafetyjournal

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy 

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileygreenfitness

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Mid-roll Sponsor: @rescue_squad_ironworks

@truenorthfools

@ffrescueontario

Phil Montgomery is a Captain with Central York Fire Services with twenty-three years on the job. He is energetic about teaching high-rise and mid-rise firefighting. and technical rescue skills. He has learned from some of North America's best and seeks to emulate them as a motivational role model to others. Phil is passionate about building confident firefighters, who are enthusiastic, determined and hard working.

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy 

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileygreenfitness

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Matthew Lysy is a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Prince George's County, MD Fire and EMS Department and 10 year veteran of the emergency services.  As a second generation firefighter and continuous student of the profession, Matthew has come to recognize the need to incorporate the human element into operations. With the advancements in technology, apparatus, and PPE the human response is still largely removed from operations. Hailing from New Jersey and growing up along the beach has helped to shape an active and disciplined lifestyle. It is Matthew's belief that although we are a high performance profession in many ways there is still a lot we can learn from in the advancements of other high performing industries. Matthew holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Psychology from King's College and is a State of Maryland Level II fire instructor. Matthew is a lead fire instructor with Task Force 1 Inc and an assistant instructor with O2x Human performance. For fun Matthew enjoys spending time with family and exploring new places. Matthew currently lives outside of Baltimore, MD. 

@matthewlysy12

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy 

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileygreenfitness

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Kyle Romagus is a 23-year veteran with East Montgomery County Fire Department, holds the rank of Battalion Chief and is in love with engine work.  Kyle is the owner of Smoothbore Cartel and founder of Engine Company Resurrection.

Kyle teaches engine operations for several well-known fire service instructor groups such as:

• FD tactics

• Elkhart Brass

• Brothers in Battle

• County Fire Tactics

• Oathkeepers engine cadre 

He is also the admin of engine company resurrection.  His primary objective is to share knowledge about the value of Engine work with his fellow firefighters.

Kyle travels the country providing lectures and hands on training on engine company skills and provides one of the most compelling lectures on fire attack in the industry.

@smoothborecartel

@firehousevigilance

@countyfiretactics

@brothersinbattlellc

@elkhartbrass

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @premiummixmarketingco

Administration: @haileyfirefit

Administration: @haileyfirefit

Aaron recently retired as a 25-year veteran of Seattle Fire and assumed the role of Assistant Chief of Training and Operations with Camano Island Fire and Rescue in August of 2025. Acknowledged by his peers at Seattle FD as Firefighter of the Year in 2011, awarded the Fire Engineering/International Society of Fire Service Instructors George D. Post Instructor of the Year award in 2017, and creator of the Nozzle Forward Program, Aaron has been described as articulate, dynamic and magnetic. He identifies most as a 'Sharer of ideas'. He and his Cadre have taught over 70,000 members of the fire service across North America since the program's inception. He has delivered a keynote at FDIC and contributed to the work of the FSRI as a member of their Fire Attack Technical Panel. He is married with two children.

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy 

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileygreenfitness

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Mid-roll Sponsor: @rescue_squad_ironworks

Photo Credit: @justinidephotography

Rob “Robbie” Fisher is a retired battalion chief from Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue. He has been a student of the fire service for over 36 years. Before his promotion to Battalion Chief, Rob spent 20 years as a company officer, 15 of those assigned to the department’s only ladder company. He was also a member of Snohomish County’s regional technical rescue team. Additionally, Chief Fisher has held multiple assignments in the Training Division, including serving as the former Chief of the Snohomish County Fire Training Academy (SCFTA) and as a cadre instructor for live-fire and truck operations.

Rob instructs with multiple cadres. In addition to Brothers in Battle, he is affiliated with County Fire Tactics, Roof Pervs, and the Highwaymen. Rob also co-founded Young Officers on Fire, an online mentoring/leadership group.

Robbie has been an active member with the Puget Sound FOOLS since 2002. He has been on the International’s E-board since 2013. He was the Education/Training Chair until he accepted a new position within the International as the West Coast Region Representative in 2022.

 When not instructing or talking about the job, Rob enjoys travelling with his wife of 33 years, Jodie. He enjoys cooking, wine, music, and spending time with his two granddaughters.

@robfisher72

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy 

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileygreenfitness

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Mid-roll Sponsor: @rescue_squad_ironworks

Robert Policht is a lieutenant with Ladder Company 2 of the Passaic Fire Department, where he also serves on the Fire Investigation Unit.

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Policht is a former volunteer chief and has taught at academies, including the Bergen County Fire Academy, and is the President of the Liberty F.O.O.L.S. He holds a master’s in Emergency Management and Homeland Security from Arizona State University. He serves on the NJ Division of Fire Safety’s Fire Threat Task Force, is a Safety Officer for the NJ-AHIMT, and contributes to the Firehouse Magazine editorial advisory board.

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His work has been featured in Firehouse, Fire Engineering, NJFMBA newsletters, textbooks, and through the Blue Collar Firemen cadre. As founder of Flow and Vent, Policht leads international training, consulting, and podcasting focused on fireground readiness, legacy, and innovation.

@flowandvent

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileygreenfitness

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Amanda Harry is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist who specializes in supporting firefighters and other first responders through trauma-informed care. Drawing on over two decades of frontline and clinical experience, Amanda helps those who serve their communities navigate the impact of high-pressure work—addressing trauma, managing stress, and staying connected to their sense of purpose. Through evidence-based approaches like EMDR, mindfulness, and self-compassion, she equips first responders with tools to prepare for and process critical incidents, sustain emotional wellness, and continue doing the work they value most.

Beyond her clinical role, Amanda consults on mental health program design and delivery and continues to advocate for accessible, compassionate care across the fire service community.

Learn more at www.amandaharry.com or contact [email protected].

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileygreenfitness

Partnership: @firefighternationhq

Jeff Bryant’s fire service career began in 2007 when he joined his small town volunteer fire department as a third-generation firefighter. He served a couple of suburban fire departments until 2014 when he was hired by the Aurora (IL) Fire Department. He is currently assigned to Central Station Truck 2.

Bryant’s true passion lies in training and cultivating the next generation of firefighters. He’s an instructor for the Southern Kane County Training Association, past organizer of the Amboy Fire & Extrication School and Blackhawk Firefighters Association School, founder of the Midwest Area Fire Academy & FireNuggets Search School, collaborator of the West Coast Truck Conference, FireNuggets Webinar Series, Firemanship 2024, and more.

He started a FireNuggets affiliate for Illinois (Illinois FireNuggets) in 2018 and has brought many training opportunities to the IL area. He has assisted in the creation of multiple other state affiliations and selflessly contributed to their efforts to run their first few events. As of January 2024, Bryant has been selected by the board to serve as the President for FireNuggets, Inc. Bryant then joined Firefighter Rescue Survey in 2019 to assist with data dissemination through social media, training, and seminars. He was able to help secure a non-profit status and make FFRS a 501c3.

He proudly joined the Brothers in Battle cadre in October of 2022.

Behind Bryant is his very supportive wife, Ashley, and three pretty cool children - Everly, Emmy, and Brody.

@jeffbryant591

@brothersinbattlellc

@thefirenuggets

@firefighterrescuesurvey

@firemanshipconference

@midwestareafireacademy

Sponsorship: @southwest_fire_academy

Editing: @bradshea

Marketing: @m.pletz

Administration: @haileygreenfitness

Partnership: @firefighternationhq