The full list of speakers for the 2024 ALERRT Conference has not been released.
See below for the most up-to-date information.
2024 General Session Speakers
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Tania Glenn
Resilience Through Chaos
Dr. Tania Glenn is the president of Tania Glenn and Associates, a clinical practice in Central TX that is focused on promoting resilience and providing critical care to first responders and veterans. As a leading national clinician in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Dr. Glenn specializes in creating effective programs designed to mitigate traumatic stress and to assist patients with their return to normalcy as quickly as possible.
As a licensed clinician with thirty years of experience, Dr. Glenn deployed to the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, New York City in 2001, New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Dallas in 2016 for the aftermath of the attack on the Dallas Police Department, and to Uvalde for the school shooter in 2022. Recognized nationally, Dr. Glenn’s clients include a host of Texas and Arizona Police, Fire and EMS Departments, Federal Law Enforcement agencies, commercial aviation, and air medical programs. She is the Clinical Director for several peer support teams with her unique perspective on special operations competencies.
Dr. Glenn is a noted author with numerous books dealing with mental health, PTSD, first responders, military, and family. Additionally, she has been involved in several documentaries dealing directly with mental health trauma.
www.taniaglenn.com
www.smashingthestigma.com -
Max Schachter
Turning Pain Into Purpose - A Father’s Journey to Make Schools Safer After the Parkland School Shooting
Max Schachter is a national school safety advocate. His son Alex was one of the 17 victims murdered in the Parkland school shooting on Valentine’s Day 2018. Max is the founder and executive director of the 501(c)(3) Safe Schools for Alex.
Since the heartbreaking day that changed Max’s life forever, he has been advocating for policy change at the highest levels of the United States government. He has worked alongside members of congress, leaders of all major federal agencies, and the President of the United States to make schools safer. Max has testified as a subject matter expert before the United States House and Senate Homeland Security Committees and multiple state legislatures. In August 2018 he advocated for the creation of a federal agency to house national school safety best practices during his testimony before the Federal Commission on School Safety. In June 2019, Max’s vision became a reality when President Trump created the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse (SchoolSafety.gov) inside the Department of Homeland Security. Max has also worked to improve the safety and security of Florida’s 2.4 million students through his appointment to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School Public Safety commission. The MSD commission, established by former Governor Rick Scott, was tasked with leading the statewide investigation into the Parkland school shooting and developing recommendations to protect Florida’s children. Max has advised the FBI Behavioral Threat Assessment Center, the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office on threat assessment policies and procedures. He is a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association School Safety and Security Committee and the International Association of Chiefs of Police Mass Violence Peer-to-Peer Advisory Team. In June 2019, Max was awarded the U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Citizen Volunteer Service Award by Attorney General William Barr.
2024 Breakout Speakers
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Matt Anderson
Statewide ALERRT Programs Panel Discussion
Matt Anderson is a thirty-year member of the Department of Public Safety. Special Agent in Charge Matt Anderson currently serves as Bureau Chief for the Governor’s School Safety Bureau (GSSB). Prior to this assignment SAC Anderson served as a Special Agent with the Division of Narcotics Enforcement for ten years, the Division of Criminal Investigation for eight years, and the Iowa State Patrol for twelve years.
The GSSSB was established in June of 2022 to assist public, non-public, and independent schools in preventing school violence. This is accomplished through direct communication and training of school employees, law enforcement, and first responders. GSSB has provided emergency radios for installation at school offices which allow direct communication with area law enforcement. In March of 2023 GSSB launched Safe+Sound, a free, anonymous, school threat reporting mobile app, website, and toll-free tip line. Safe+Sound is monitored 24/7/365 by GSSB staff, providing direct contact to school administrators and local law enforcement.
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Cody Brewington
Statewide ALERRT Programs Panel Discussion
Cody Brewington is the Director of the Missouri State University Public Safety Training Center. He has worked at Missouri State University since 2008 and graduated from MSU in 2011, with a Master’s Degree in Criminology and a Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security and Defense.
Cody has served on the Missouri Investigator Association Board since 2013 and assists with the annual conference since 2009. He has served on the Family Violence Taskforce since 2012 and assists with the annual Stop the Violence Conference.
In 2017, Cody was asked to be a board member of the Lake Career and Technical Center Criminal Justice Program in Camdenton to help identify program needs and review the course curriculum.
In 2017, the university launched the MSU Public Safety Training Center, which provides law enforcement, private investigator, jailer and dispatch training throughout the Lake of the Ozarks region. MSU was awarded a grant through the Missouri Department of Public Safety Office of Homeland Security to offer active shooter training in partnership with the Texas State University ALERRT Program to law enforcement agencies across the state of Missouri.
Cody enjoys spare time with his wife and two boys, traveling, working on projects around the house and garage, and visiting with family.
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Elaine Brown
77 Minutes - Moving Left of Bang
Judge Elaine Brown is the judge for Hays County Court at Law #3, Mental Health Court. She has experience as an administrative judge, a municipal prosecutor, an attorney for legal aid and in private practice. Judge Brown practiced law for several years in Victoria, Texas before she returned to school to study psychology. She received a Masters Degree in Psychology and became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2011. After relocating from Victoria, Texas to Dripping Springs, Texas, Judge Brown worked as a mental health professional and an attorney in Hays and Travis Counties. Judge Brown has served as the judge of Hays County Court at Law #3 since January 1 of 2023. Judge Brown is involved with several community organizations. Judge Brown has served on the Board of the Hays County Bar Association for the past 5 years and she has volunteered as a student mentor and served as a judge for the Hays County Dating Violence Mock Trial. Judge Brown has been involved with creating opportunities to increase mental health awareness in the community and has served as the co-chair of the Behavioral Assessment Team in Hays County. Judge Brown frequently speaks at community events around Hays County and has advocated for more education and funding to address mental health in Hays County. She has been married for 31 years and raised 5 children. She is the proud grandmother of twin boys and a baby grandson born in February 2024.
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Gregory Ciottone
Disaster Medicine During Intentional Events : The Continuum of Care From Field to Hospital Response
Dr. Ciottone is President Emeritus of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine and an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is an Instructor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH), and the Founding Director of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Fellowship in Disaster Medicine, where he has trained over 125 postdoctoral fellows, many of whom are now in leadership positions in the US and around the world. Dr. Ciottone also serves as the Director of Medical Preparedness for the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard University, a joint program of the HSPH and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and sits on the faculty committee for the Harvard University Scholars at Risk program. He is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the International Board of Disaster Medicine, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and has been a Visiting Professor at three international universities.
As a former member of the United States National Disaster Medical System, Dr. Ciottone was Commander of the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) Massachusetts-2 when it was one of the first federal teams deployed into Ground Zero responding to the 9/11 attacks. He was a Founding Member of the US Department of Homeland Security and has been a consultant to the White House Medical Unit for the past three administrations. Dr. Ciottone’s clinical and field experience includes 25 years as a practicing emergency physician and over 500 missions as a flight physician on an aeromedical helicopter service. He has conducted educational programs in more than 30 countries around the world and has served as a disaster response fellowship director for the International Atomic Energy Agency. Dr. Ciottone has written over 150 scholarly works on Disaster Medicine and Emergency Management, including serving as founding Editor-in-Chief of his textbook Ciottone’s Disaster Medicine, now in its 3rd edition and considered the leading textbook in the field. In 2016, Dr Ciottone was recognized by the Physician to the President for “Outstanding Achievement in Support of the White House Medical Unit and the President of the United States”. He is the 2018 recipient of the American College of Emergency Physicians Disaster Medical Sciences Award, and the 2020 recipient of the American Academy of Disaster Medicine Distinguished Service Award. In 2024 Dr Ciottone was awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa for his work in Disaster Medicine from Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier in France.
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Mike Clumpner
Joint Public Safety Response to the Active Assailant in High Rises and Large Buildings
Mike Clumpner, PhD is the President at Threat Suppression, Incorporated. Mike is currently a full-time fire battalion chief with the Charlotte Fire Department assigned to one of the busiest battalions in the city. He is a 32-year veteran of the fire service, with 29 years’ experience as a firefighter/paramedic serving on inner-city fire companies. Mike has served since 2010 as a deputy sheriff and SWAT operator/tactical paramedic with South Carolina's largest law enforcement agency.
Mike has undergraduate degrees in fire science, paramedicine, and business administration. He has a master’s degree in business administration and a PhD in homeland security policy. Mike’s dissertation research focused on integrated public safety response to active shooter events. Mike has researched active shooter/hostile events since 2005, amassing more than 35,000 hours of research.
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Michael Collazo
Officer Response to an Active Shooter
Michael Adrian Collazo was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Growing up, he spent his entire life in Middle Tennessee. Following high school, he met his wife, Cassie. They married in 2015 and have been blessed with two daughters.
In his early years, he nurtured aspirations to make a meaningful impact on his life. After completing high school, he chose to enlist in the Marine Corps, dedicating a total of 8 years and earning his college degree while actively participating in the Reserves.
Post-college, he embraced the opportunity to attend the Police Academy with the Nashville Police Department. Upon graduation, he initially served as a patrol officer for approximately two years before transitioning to a Flex Tea.
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Mike Eckert
Debrief of Natalie Building Shooting, Tulsa, OK
Mike Eckert is a Captain with the Tulsa Police Department. He has been with TPD since 1992 and has served in a variety of positions in his 30+year career. These positions include Patrol Officer, Patrol Supervisor and Patrol Shift Commander. Assignments in specialty units include Foot Beat, Street Crimes, Training division Sergeant, Field Training Program Coordinator, and Range Master.
Since 1995 Mike has been a member of the Special Operations Team, serving as the Team Commander since 2014. He holds numerous law enforcement certifications related to the tactical field and regularly coordinates and teaches in a wide variety of topics. His students range from new recruits in the academy to veteran officers with TPD as well as outside agencies. Mike has been teaching active shooter preparation and response to officers as well as civilian audiences for over 20 years, and he was the incident commander at the Natalie Building on June 1, 2022.
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Shelby Franklin
Fargo Police Department Ambush 07/14/2023
Special Agent Shelby Franklin North Dakota BCI Shelby Franklin received his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Law Enforcement from Alexandria Technical College in 2002. He began his career after graduation in Hutchinson, MN, for the Hutchinson Police Department and he worked as a patrol officer and also a rotational investigative position while with the Hutchinson Police Department. He moved to the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation in 2009, and was stationed in Valley City, ND and Fargo, ND. Shelby has also attended the 10-week National Forensic Academy in Knoxville, Tennessee and was awarded the 2021 Agent of the Year award by the N.D. Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
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Erica Gaines
After Action Recovery: Mass Shooting & OIS Aftercare For First Responders
Erica Gaines is a Law Enforcement culture and wellness expert having met over 100,000 officers since 2013. After authoring the world’s largest anonymous survey of police stress, she used her straightforward approach to developed several police and first responder training courses that are renowned for being innovative, engaging and just what First Responders have been looking for. As a certified yoga instructor, specializing in yoga therapy to rehabilitate and prevent injuries, Erica combines the science behind stress with practical/proactive recovery techniques that can be applied on or off duty.
For more info, visit us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or LinkedIn @tacmobility.
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Adam Keene
Statewide ALERRT Programs Panel Discussion
Adam Keene, more widely known throughout ALERRT as “Bull” is a native of southwestern Virginia and has been in public service to the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2005. He has worked in various capacities that began with the Department of Corrections, the Department of State Police, and the Department of Criminal Justice Services where he is now the Active Attack Program manager. Serving under the executive branch of state government, he is the liaison to the Officer of the Governor, the Secretary of Public Safety, and the General Assembly. He is charged with overseeing public safety training for first responders and citizens statewide. As well as active attack training for K-12 and Higher Ed through the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety.
Adam completed paramedic training at Virginia Commonwealth University and spent eight years in the Special Operations Division assigned to the Richmond based Tactical Team One. He was a senior breacher and SWAT medic coordinator for the Operational Medical Support Unit of the state police. Adam was later selected to serve in the Executive Protection Division, tasked with maintaining the safety of the Governor and First family. He worked under two administrations as a team leader and unit medic and then chose to transfer into the training division under the Tactical Operations Unit. As a senior trainer, he was responsible for the development and implementation of tactical and specialty training for the Bureau of Field Operations and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. In mid-2020 Adam was selected to stand-up Virginia’s first Active Attack program and has continued to build its capacity into a nationwide means to offer first responder and community focused training to officers and citizens at all levels local, state, and federal.
Adam has obtained numerous instructor credentials over the years from both state and federal entities in a wide array of topics. Among his most valued is the honor of serving as an ALERRT adjunct. For the past decade he has had the opportunity to facilitate ALERRT training in all disciplines nationwide while also helping to contribute to curriculum updates.
Adam currently resides with his family near Richmond, VA, and lives by the moto: “We rarely rise above our level of training … make everyday a training day!”
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Hunter Martaindale
ALERRT Experiential Learning and Active Attack Data
Hunter Martaindale currently serves as ALERRT’s Director of Research, and he is also an Associate Research Professor within the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Texas State University. Within these roles, Hunter oversees ALERRT’s research efforts including the active attack data, grant writing, program evaluations, and studies to better understand police performance.
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Richard Meulenberg
Debrief of Natalie Building Shooting, Tulsa, OK
Captain Richard Meulenberg is a 28-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department. He has held a variety of positions during his tenure, including patrol officer, investigator, project manager, and currently the supervisor of the Communications Unit responsible for all official public information correspondence.
In addition to his primary assignments, Captain Meulenberg has also served on the Incident Management Team and the Special Operations Team. He spent 8 years with the Incident Management Team, which is responsible for coordinating the response to large-scale emergencies. He also spent 8 additional years with the Special Operations Team, where he served as the Intel Officer.
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John Miller
Organized Chaos: Tactical Level Command, Control, Communications, and Contingencies in Crisis Response
Captain John Miller is the commander of the Texas DPS SWAT Team and merges evidence-based practices with real-world training and operations to effect safer outcomes for the citizens of Texas. In addition to his current law enforcement role, John is a US Army Special Forces combat veteran and PhD student at Texas State University. John aims to synthesize best practices between academia, law enforcement, and conventional and special operations communities to provide safer and more effective outcomes.
John earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas Tech University (2014) and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Norwich University (2021). John is a PhD student at Texas State University in Criminology and Criminal Justice. John conducts research in the areas of special police units, critical event response, intelligence-led policing, transnational organized crime and terrorism, and border issues.
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Richard Ridlon
Statewide ALERRT Programs Panel Discussion
Captain Richard Ridlon has been a member of the Massachusetts State Police since 1993 and currently serves as the Operations Officer of Special Operations as well as the Commander of the Crisis Negotiation Team. Captain Ridlon began his law enforcement career as a civilian employee of the Boston Police Department where he served until joining the Massachusetts State Police. Captain Ridlon has previously served as a member of the Special Tactical Operations Team, the Director of Firearms Training, the Director of the Medical Unit, Department Armorer and the Commander of the Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team. Captain Ridlon spent several years in Investigative services with assignments to the Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Custom’s Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force. Captain Ridlon became a supervisor of a homicide unit in southeastern Massachusetts before transferring to the Division of Standards and Training.
Captain Ridlon holds master’s degrees from Boston University and the United States Naval Postgraduate School. Captain Ridlon has conducted training and presented internationally on the topic of medical care in tactical situations. Captain Ridlon held the position of adjunct professor at Mount Ida College in Newton MA where he was a member of the criminal justice department. Captain Ridlon has deployed to disaster areas and provided training to humanitarian aid workers throughout several countries.
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Bill Sandel
Statewide ALERRT Programs Panel Discussion
Bill Sandel, PhD, is an Associate Professor and the Assistant School Director for Outreach and Partnerships in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Missouri State University. His research focuses on law enforcement tactics, use of force, police training, active shooter events, and conservation criminology. Dr. Sandel works with a number of agencies to provide researchbased active shooter training. He is part of a team that has received over $375,000 in funding for training throughout the state of Missouri. Prior to working at MSU, Dr. Sandel served as the research specialist at the ALERRT Center and still works closely with the research department on a number of projects.
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Stan Standridge
77 Minutes - Moving Left of Bang
Chief Standridge currently serves as the Police Chief in San Marcos, TX, where he oversees a civil service municipal agency. He is a member of the elected board of the Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA), where he oversees the Officer Safety Committee for Texas. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including 20 Under 40 Business Leader, Executive Leadership Award, I-CAN Hero, and the TPCA’s Innovation Award.
Chief Standridge began his law enforcement career in 1995 with the Abilene Police Department, where he worked as Patrol Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Assistant Chief. He spent a decade on the SWAT Team, served in Internal Affairs, and was an instructor on several topics including Ethics, Leadership and Active Shooter. On July 9, 2009, Stan was appointed Chief of the Abilene Police Department, serving for eleven years in that role before coming to San Marcos in November 2020.
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Jim Stover
Statewide ALERRT Programs Panel Discussion
Jim Stover began his law enforcement career in 1989 with the Nebraska State Patrol, initially serving in the Carrier Enforcement Division (DOT/Weights and Measures). In 1991, he transitioned to the Patrol division and was stationed in Minden, where he worked the road and became an instructor in building search, firearms, and defensive tactics.
In 2000, Jim transferred to the State Patrol Training Academy, where he was promoted to Sergeant. During his tenure at the academy, he taught a wide range of subjects, including Emergency Vehicle Operations, Firearms, ALERRT Level 1/Building Search, Defensive Tactics, Physical Training, Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, and SWAT Basic. He also served as the camp executive officer until his promotion to Lieutenant in 2012. As a Lieutenant, Jim was the SWAT Liaison in Norfolk.
Jim retired from the Nebraska State Patrol in 2022 when he secured a position as the Training Specialist with the Iowa Governor’s School Safety Bureau. In this role, he continues to work diligently to ensure the safety of children and school staff, embracing the challenges and responsibilities of his new position by coordinating the ALERRT training to school and law enforcement staff.
Jim is blessed to be married to Sharee, and together they have three children: Tawny (26), Cody (24), and Andi (14).
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Christopher Winckler
Whole Blood
Visionary and compassionate Board-Certified Emergency Medicine and EMS Physician leading clinical operations, teaching in university setting, and conducting research to ensure optimal patient care. Passionate about community health and emergency response, serving as Deputy Medical Director for the San Antonio Fire Department/EMS with many years as an EMT and field/rescue Paramedic prior to pursuing medical degree. Currently serve as Assistant Professor at University of Texas San Antonio Emergency Health Sciences and seeking an Associate Professor role in the department.
20+ years of emergency medicine practice and leadership experience focused on translating untapped opportunities that provide access to healthcare for underserved populations and veterans.
Strong interest in emergency services management with extensive experience overseeing regional programs and services.
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Anthony Winn
77 Minutes - Moving Left of Bang
Anthony Winn holds a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology and is credentialed as a Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor (LPC-S). Since early 2015, Anthony has dedicated his career to Community Mental Health, gaining extensive experience across various roles within the field. He currently serves as the Director of Clinical Operations for Hill Country MHDD Centers where he oversees the delivery of outpatient mental health services, ensuring quality care for the community.
Training Class Instructors
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Stacy Avila
Day 1 - I Love U Guys SRP and SRM Instructor
Stacy Avila received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration of Justice (emphasis in Psychology and Sociology) from the University of Wyoming in 1995. Stacy began her career as a police officer for the City of Arvada, Colorado in 1996 and retired in 2017. During her twenty-one years with the Arvada Police Department, Stacy served as a Field Training Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Department Training Officer, and Hostage Negotiator. Stacy served as a negotiator on the Jefferson County Regional SWAT team for fifteen years and was the primary negotiator during the Platte Canyon High School incident on September 27, 2006. After that shooting she developed a nearly two decade long trusting relationship with The I Love U Guys Foundation. Stacy began training along with John Michael Keyes, Executive Director of The I Love U Guys Foundation, in 2009. Stacy became a highly trained Adjunct Instructor for The Foundation in 2019 and has conducted over seventy five Standard Response Protocol and Standard Reunification Method trainings, equating to over 700 hours of training, across the country. In 2024, Stacy became the Training Coordinator for the I Love U Guys Foundation.
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Gregg Brady
Days 3&4 - Advanced Tactical Medicine
Gregg is a EMS Deputy Chief assigned to FDNY EMS Division 3 in the East New York Brooklyn. His time with the department has spanned two time periods 2000 to 2004 and then continuing with the FDNY again in January of 2011 to current. He has progressed his career from Paramedic to the Officer rank of Deputy Chief with roles as a Haztac Medic, Rescue Medic, Haztac Lieutenant and Captain of the FDNY’s Counter Terrorism Task Force. During his time away from the FDNY he furthered his experience as a Firefighter/Paramedic with the City of Kissimmee from 2004 to 2008 and during that time operated as a Tactical Paramedic with the City of Kissimmee Police Department SWAT Team. From March 2008 to October 2010 he spent contracting with the Department of State as a high threat protection specialist/Medic in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Kevin Burd
Day 1 - I Love U Guys SRP and SRM Instructor
Kevin Burd began his law enforcement career in 1998 and retired as Detective Lieutenant with the Hunterdon County (NJ) Prosecutor's Office after 22 years. During his time with the Prosecutor's Office, he served in the Major Crimes Unit and Commander of the Special Operations Unit. The Special Operations Unit consisted of SWAT, Homeland Security, Emergency Management, Active Threat Response and School Safety. During his career, Kevin was instrumental in developing and coordinating the Hunterdon County Safe Campus Initiative which included the implementation of the I Love U Guys Foundation Standard Response Protocol and Standard Reunification Method, along with other nationally recognized grant funded programs and training. This initiative was led through community partnerships to bring common terminology, actions and plans for a coordinated and integrated response during an active threat incident. During this initiative, Kevin was responsible for training thousands of first responders, educators and students, businesses, houses of worship and civilians. Post retirement, Kevin now serves as the Training Director for the I Love U Guys Foundation, Lead Instructor for C3 Pathways / National Center for Integrated Emergency Response, Instructor for the National Center for Biomedical Research Training (NCBRT) at Louisiana State University (LSU) and is the Owner of Priority of Life Training and Consulting.
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Erin Clewell
Day 1 - Low-Light Building Search
Sgt Erin Clewell has been the Training Coordinator and Rangemaster for the San Marcos (TX) PD since Dec 2007. He began his LE career in Feb 1995 with the Hays County (TX) SO before moving to the San Marcos PD in Jul 1998.
Sgt Clewell is a proud US Army veteran and received his honorable discharge in 1999. Sgt Clewell’s professional work has included the regular instruction of firearms, defensive tactics, low-light tactics, force-on-force/officer survival scenarios, Stop Sticks and active shooter response for the San Marcos PD and other organizations to include the TTPOA, ALERRT, and the DoD.
Sgt Clewell has been instructing low-light tactics classes since 2002. Besides instructing internally at his own agency, Sgt Clewell has presented dozens of low-light tactics courses around the country for ALERRT as well as at five previous TTPOA Conferences.
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Romulus Diamond
Days 3&4 - Advanced Tactical Medicine
Romulus is a retired Army Special Forces Medical Sergeant as an 18D/Z and OGRS bodyguard with 6 years in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria and another 8 years in 43 other countries in conflict. He has 700 surgical hours as primary or first assist, and is accredited as an instructor with ALERRT, TCOLE, USSOCOM, NAEMT, Sheepdog Response and the Department of State.
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Brian Ellingson
Day 1 - Low-Light Building Search
Brian Ellingson is currently an Officer assigned as the Training Officer for the San Marcos PD. In this position, his responsibilities include developing, planning and implementing new and continuing department training. He has held this position since July 2021. Prior to that, Brian worked in the patrol division, serving as a Patrol Officer, a Field Training Officer (FTO), and department instructor.
Officer Ellingson served in the United States Army (Regular Army, Army Reserve, and National Guard) for over 20 years. During his time in the Army, he held three Military Occupational Specialties (12B (Combat Engineer), 38B (Civil Affairs Specialist), 15T (UH60 Repairer/UH-60 Crew chief)) and deployed overseas two times. He retired from the Texas Army National Guard in 2018.
His professional work has included the regular instruction of firearms, defensive tactics, low-light tactics, force-on-force/officer survival scenarios, patrol practical training for new officers, and active shooter response for the San Marcos PD and the ALERRT center. Officer Ellingson has served as a robotics operator, supporting the Hays County/San Marcos PD SWAT Team since 2020. During his time as a robot operator, Brian has responded to numerous callouts within Hays County, as well as surrounding counties. He has assisted with locating numerous suspects, as well as clearing of buildings and residences, prior to SWAT team members making entry.
Officer Ellingson has been designated as the ALERRT Liaison by Chief Standridge. In this position, he is responsible for planning and executing a variety of active attack-based training, to include tabletop and live exercises. He has also assisted other agencies with evaluating their active attack response. Officer Ellingson’s professional interests include learning about new law enforcement products, techniques, and tactics.
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Wayne Freeman
Day 1 - Active Attack for Dispatch
Wayne Freeman has been in law enforcement for 29 years and is the South Carolina Active Shooter and CCTA Training Coordinator. He is a Captain with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and supervises the State Active Shooter Training Program. Past assignments include: special operations, firefighter, EMT, SWAT, medic, tactical flight officer, explosives K-9 handler, bloodhound tracking team, hazardous materials response, fugitive operations, DARE Officer, SRO, and others.
He has been honored to work with survivors and responders from Margery Stoneman Douglas, Columbine, Virginia Tech, the Greenwood SC Shooting, Trolley Square, the Naval Yard Shooting, Sandy Hook, Mother Emanuel, and many others.
He has managed the South Carolina Active Shooter and CCTA Training Program for more than a decade and was the program director for the Federal Complex Coordinated Terrorist Attack Grant Program. He has trained students from all fifty states and 10 countries.
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Russ Howard
Day 1 - Fire As A Weapon Live Class
Russ Howard currently serves as an Special Operations Lieutenant in the Austin Fire Department. Lt Howard currently has 17 years of Special Operations, firefighting and EMT experience. Lt Howard leads the AFD Active Attack workgroup and faciltitates Active Attack and FAAW training in the City of Austin. Lt Howard has been an ALERRT Adjunct Instructor since 2016.
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Andrew Huitt
Day 1 - Pre-Staged RTF Live Fire
Days 3&4 - Advanced Tactical Medicine
Captain Andrew Huitt has served for 24 years with Austin Travis County EMS Department in a variety of capacities that have included Special Operations, Field Operations, Training and Educational Roles. He is an Adjunct Instructor with Texas State University ALERRT Program currently responsible for the development and ongoing implementation of our City of Austin Joint Agency Active Attack Integrated Response Course collaborating with our partner agencies to deliver effective mitigation and management strategies in response to violent attacks.
A strong passion for point of injury trauma management identified educational gaps within our local partner agencies and developed a First Responder Trauma Outreach project working with hundreds of our First Responders to deliver effective strategies to eliminate preventable traumatic deaths. These inter-agency relationships helped produce a novel delivery model of point of injury trauma management to victims of violent attacks. The joint agency development of a Pre-Staged Rescue Task Force Model supports Austin Police Departments Counter Assault Strike Team (CAST) in partnership with the Austin Fire Department and Austin Travis County EMS Department (CASTMED) working to eliminate preventable death through the swift and aggressive application of trauma management often moments after injury.
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Tate J
Day 1 - Vehicle Ambush/Rescue/DTC/ITC
TJ is a retired USMC MSgt who spent a decade of his time in service as a Special Missions Unit operator at Ft. Bragg, NC with over a dozen combat deployments to Africa, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. He has conducted direct action missions and led various other allied countries’ SOF Units into combat against global terrorist threats. He has advised and trained many US-based SWAT teams, foreign partners, and US Embassies located in high threat areas on security, tactical training, low visibility operations, and emergency evacuation techniques.
Over the past few years, TJ has worked with the “Sentinel Foundation,” an international charity focused on ending child sex trafficking around the world. As the Chief of Operations, he has deployed to numerous countries conducting counter child trafficking, emergency evacuations, and support operations. His military accomplishments include: The Navy Cross, Tier one operator training course graduate, 3 Bronze Stars (2 with Valor device), and the Central Intelligence Agency Medal for Valor during armed conflict.
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John-Michael Keyes
Day 1 - I Love U Guys SRP and SRM Instructor
John-Michael Keyes co-founded the "I Love U Guys" Foundation after the tragic loss of his daughter, Emily, in a school shooting in 2006. Under his leadership, the foundation has made significant strides in improving school safety through standardization and communication. Keyes' expertise in software and graphic design has been valuable to the foundation's development of communication and training materials. He has testified before state legislatures and served on several advisory boards related to school safety.
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Randall Milstead
Day 1 - Live-Fire Solo Response
Officer Milstead received his commission thru the Austin Police Department (APD) in 1984 and honorably retired at the rank of Corporal in 2010. During his career with APD, Corporal Milstead’s APD assignments included positions in Uniform Patrol, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Narcotics Division, Repeat Offender Unit, DTAC Bicycle Patrol and Training Academy Instructor.
ALERRT Instructor /Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training
April 2011 – Present / San Marcos, TX.
Instructor certified: Active shooter L1, Active Shooter T3, Plain Clothes Response to Violent Encounters (PCRVE), Civilian Response To Active Shooter Events (CRASE), Active Shooter Events and Response (ASER), Exterior Response To Active Shooter Events (ERASE), Solo Officer Rapid Deployment (SORD), Solo Officer Rapid Deployment T3, Active Attack Integrated Response T3 (AAIR), School Based Law Enforcement (SBLE).
* Co-developed ALERRT curriculums: PCRVE, SORD, SORD Train The Trainer
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Kenneth Pippin
Day 1 - MARCH out of the Darkness
Days 3&4 - Advanced Tactical Medicine
Kenneth Pippin is a Lieutenant/Critical Care Paramedic with the City of New Braunfels (TX) Fire Department and an Adjunct Instructor with ALERRT. Kenneth holds a BAAS in Fire and Emergency Services Administration and an AAS in EMS and has over 18 years of experience in Fire and EMS.
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Tony Pisaro
Day 1 - Live-Fire Solo Response
Houston Police Officer for 37 years. 12 years in Patrol working as field trainer and evaluator. 22 years as Full time Member Houston SWAT Team , serving many positions including Assault and Sniper Team Leaders.
3 years Houston Police Training Academy Tactical Training Unit, Instructed Level 1, AAIR and SABA as part of mandatory
training for the Houston Police department. Instructed one day SORD range day for all divisional tactical teams.
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Nate S
Day 1 - Vehicle Ambush/Rescue/DTC/ITC
Nate is an experienced Green Beret out of the US Army Special Operations Command. Following college, he enlisted in the United States Army in 2007 under the 18X, Special Forces Candidate Program. Upon successful Selection and completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2010, he went on to deploy over 10 times in support of combat operations in the Middle East and East Africa, in some of the most hostile and dynamic environments.
Nate has held extensive duty and leadership positions during his career and specializes in Mission Planning, Direct Action (DA), Low-Visibility Operations/Conflict Avoidance, Airborne Operations, Long-Range Ground Mobility, Combat Marksmanship, Close Quarters Battle (CQB / CQC), Reconnaissance and Surveillance, Explosive / Ballistic / Mechanical / Thermal Breaching, Contingency Planning/Operations, and Crisis Response.
His vast training and deployment experience has afforded him opportunities to operate and interface with numerous agencies and organizations, both internal and external to the Department of Defense (DOD) enterprise, integrating at various authority levels.
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Pat Straker
Day 1 - Live-Fire Solo Response
Pat honorably retired from the Houston Police Department in March of 2022 after 35 years of dedicated service.
During his career Pat worked several different assignments with the Houston Police Department, which have included: Patrol, Detention, Tactical Unit and SWAT. Pat was last assigned as a member of Houston Police Department’s Tactical Training Unit. Pat has been an instructor with ALERRT since 2003. Pat currently teaches Level 1, AAIR and SORD.
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Johnny Wilson
Day 1 - Vehicle Ambush/Rescue/DTC/ITC
Days 3&4 - Advanced Tactical Medicine
Johnny is a forward-thinking and results-driven security and defense manager with a demonstrated track record of achievement in physical security, technology, information security, Department of Defense (DoD) tactical operations, global emergency response / rescue / medical evacuation, technical training, corporate security, counterterrorism, airborne intel / surveillance / reconnaissance (ISR), mission planning, and field trauma medicine.
As a decorated former Special Forces Green Beret and consultant, he has extensive expertise in military, private sector, international contracting, and instructing and advisor roles. Mr. Wilson has excellent communication skills to liaise between internal and external partners, train and lead cross-functional teams, and collaborate with leadership. He has a proven aptitude for developing, deploying, and continually improving procedures and programs to consistently achieve critical objectives specific to the client's needs.
In addition to international work, he integrates with and runs training for many Federal, State, and Local first response elements as well as the U.S. Special Operations Command and research and development projects within the private sector through the Texas-based company, “18 Systems Consulting.”
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Will Mercado
Day 1 - Pre-Staged RTF Live Fire
Will Mercado worked for the Austin Police Department for 23 years. During that time served on the Full-Time SWAT unit, Organized Crime Division, Training Academy and Special Events. Also, I was the Training Coordinator for Austin Police Department’s CAST Team (Counter Active Shooter Team).
While in this Training Coordinator role I planned APD’s response to dozens of events within Austin (SXSW music festivals, ACL music festivals, UT football games, planned protests at Capital, and special events in the downtown area). I was on the first pre-staged deployment in the City of Austin.
I am also an ALERRT adjunct instructor in my 20th year with the program.