BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SGT. Jon Vaala
Chairman of the Board / Co-Founder
View Details
Jon also attended the University of Denver's Public Safety Leadership Development School. He has been on the Bomb Squad since 1999 and is currently a Team Leader. In addition to being the Senior Technician on the Bomb Squad, a Tactical Bomb Technician, formerly a SWAT explosive breacher for 16 years and a firearms instructor, Jon is passionate about the EOD and his Public Safety Bomb Technician (PSBT) community. Being involved in multiple high-profile incidents and events over his career has driven his mission to promote cooperation and collaboration amongst the bomb technician community. His goals are to continue to promote SWAT/PSBT integration, professional cooperation between EOD and PSBT, promote health and wellness through foundational partnerships, continuously earn industry partnerships, as well as to bring awareness to the community by highlighting the mostly anonymous work EOD and Public Safety Bomb Technicians do worldwide and here in the U.S. Jon's gift, as a co-founder of the USBTA, is bringing the right people together and firmly believes in the philosophy, "If service is below you, leadership is beyond you."
Sean Dennis
President & CEO / Co-Founder
Board Member / Treasurer
Other then supervising the Bomb Squad and HAZ-MAT Teams Sean was the Assistant Emergency Manager for one of the largest counties in Colorado and a state certified HAZ-MAT Technician. He has been involved in the Bomb Technician/Explosive community for over 20 years (26 Years Law Enforcement) and has been involved in many critical incidents which has formed his belief system and support for Military and Public Safety Bomb Technicians. Sean feels strongly in supporting this great community and has reached out to those with in the military and public safety ranks to listen and learn on what they are hoping to see in an organization like the USBTA. Sean has spent much of his time helping other organizations who have supported other Bomb Technicians who were in need of help and supported training events between Military and Public Safety Bomb Technicians. He has formed great partnerships with many from the military and public safety communities and hopes to bring these two groups together in a strong viable partnership.
Robert vonLoewenfeldt
Executive Vice President
Board Member / Board Secretary
In 2002 he joined the Chatham County Police Bomb Squad, which later became the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Bomb Squad.He took command of the squad in 2006 and shortly after became the Southern Technician representative to NBSCAB. Rob left SCMPD in 2013 for a job with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Bomb Squad. His duties with SLED include functioning as a SWAT operator, a K-9 handler, and a diver for the Maritime Response Unit. In addition to over 14 years as a FBI certified bomb technician, Rob is also a lead instructor for the FBI's Maritime Bomb Technician Program, a member of the DHS's First Responder Response Group, the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office's IDD/EOD-LIC subgroup, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology's ASTM Robotics group. He has published several FBI Special Technician bulletins and, developed the national testing standards for underwater robots.
Rob is passionate about bomb squad integration with tactical teams, public safety dive teams, and US Military partners. Rob also
consistently works with industry to develop innovated tools, tactics and techniques to assist in closing operational gaps in bomb
squad capabilities.
LT. Chris Hall
Board Member
Along with his commander duties he is a certified tactical breacher along with underwater post blast investigator and underwater renders safe techniques. Archilochos once said "We don't rise to our level of expectations; we fall to the level of our training." Chris believes that training is one of the most important things that a team can do to perform at a high level in any situation. Chris and his team were involved in the Pulse Night Club terror attack and it was because of his team's high level of training that they performed so well that night. When an event like this occurs you may need the assistance of other members of the EOD community. That is why he believes that it is important to bring members of the EOD community together to train and learn from each other's experiences, both military and public safety.
CSM Scott Weimer
Board Member
For the last 21 years, he has served in every leadership position from Team Leader to Command Sergeant Major including Joint Staff positions, Special Operations, and direct support to Other Government Agencies. Scott has multiple combat deployments to both Iraq (2) and Afghanistan (2), as well as numerous operational deployments to Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Qatar.
During his more than 21 years of EOD experience, Scott has worked closely with our Local, State, and Federal LEOs in matters ranging from routine off-post recovery of military ordnance, Counter-IED, Counter-WMD, Education, Counter-Narcotics, and VIP Protection. He hopes to bring these experiences to the table and strengthen the bonds between Public Safety Bomb Technicians and Military EOD while working to raise awareness of our community; its complexity, its hazards, and the sacrifices that are made in service to our communities, at every opportunity.
He is currently a full time Nursing student at the University of Colorado/Colorado Springs working towards his MSN to become a Nurse Practitioner. He is married to his wife of 25 years, Luann who is an executive account for a home school education.
SGT. Brian Knudsen
Director or Business Relations / Board Member
It is these experiences and the tight knit
community of Bomb Technicians that inspire him to want to provide support and training to Bomb Squads around the country. Brian recognizes the many obstacles Bomb Squads across the nation encounter such as costly training and constrained department budgets. His goal is to raise awareness to private entities about these obstacles in order to build financial partnerships which support USBTA's training mission and contribute to the safety of their communities.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Sean Dennis
President & CEO / Co-Founder / Board Member
Other then supervising the Bomb Squad and HAZ-MAT Teams Sean was the Assistant Emergency Manager for one of the largest counties in Colorado and a state certified HAZ-MAT Technician. He has been involved in the Bomb Technician/Explosive community for over 20 years (26 Years Law Enforcement) and has been involved in many critical incidents which has formed his belief system and support for Military and Public Safety Bomb Technicians. Sean feels strongly in supporting this great community and has reached out to those with in the military and public safety ranks to listen and learn on what they are hoping to see in an organization like the USBTA. Sean has spent much of his time helping other organizations who have supported other Bomb Technicians who were in need of help and supported training events between Military and Public Safety Bomb Technicians. He has formed great partnerships with many from the military and public safety communities and hopes to bring these two groups together in a strong viable partnership.
Robert vonLoewenfeldt
Executive Vice President / Board Member
In 2002 he joined the Chatham County Police Bomb Squad, which later became the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Bomb Squad.He took command of the squad in 2006 and shortly after became the Southern Technician representative to NBSCAB. Rob left SCMPD in 2013 for a job with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Bomb Squad. His duties with SLED include functioning as a SWAT operator, a K-9 handler, and a diver for the Maritime Response Unit. In addition to over 14 years as a FBI certified bomb technician, Rob is also a lead instructor for the FBI's Maritime Bomb Technician Program, a member of the DHS's First Responder Response Group, the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office's IDD/EOD-LIC subgroup, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology's ASTM Robotics group. He has published several FBI Special Technician bulletins and, developed the national testing standards for underwater robots.
Rob is passionate about bomb squad integration with tactical teams, public safety dive teams, and US Military partners. Rob also
consistently works with industry to develop innovated tools, tactics and techniques to assist in closing operational gaps in bomb
squad capabilities.
Dr. Ian B. Vabnick
Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Vabnick has over 18 years of bomb technician experience and 10 years as a Supervisory Special Agent Bomb Technician at the Counter-IED Section (CIEDS), Critical Incident Response Group, Quantico, Virginia. Dr. Vabnick created the Research and Prototyping IED Defeat (RAPID) program and will continue to be its Chief Scientist as a civilian. The RAPID program is jointly operated by the FBI CIEDS and DHS S&T along with personnel from The Naval Service Warfare Center (Indian Head), academia, and Industry. Dr. Vabnick has advanced the field of access and disablement and has six US patents and five pending US patents on bomb neutralization related technologies. Many of the render safe procedures and technologies taught at the Hazardous Devices School were developed by Dr. Vabnick to include current pipe bomb defeat methods such as the Special Purpose Low Impact Threat Rupture (SPLITR) system, the Catenary Advanced Technology (CAT) high explosive fluid-driving shaped charge, Highly Efficient Energy Transfer (HEET) fluids and the Reverse Velocity Jet Tamper (ReVJeT). In 2005, Dr. Vabnick created the Advanced Electronics Course (AEC), which was adopted by HDS in 2009. Dr. Vabnick was the lead instructor for the AEC for 15 years. His achievements have been recognized by the 2004 Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service and the 2020 FBI Director’s Award for Excellence in Innovation.
Peter Nagel, P.C.
Chief Counsel
..including board and officer governance responsibilities, mergers and corporate restructurings, participation in tax-exempt financings, unrelated business taxable income issues, and the implementation of endowments and planned giving programs.
His diverse client base includes -
- community foundations, supporting organizations, and corporate and private foundations
- organizations that own and operate affordable housing nationwide
- state, national, and international trade associations
- religious organizations of all denominations
- organizations engaged in political and legislative advocacy, and
- a wide variety of charities engaged in education at all levels, the prevention, treatment, and cure of diseases, arts and culture, amateur sports, environmental protection, scientific research, and services to the elderly, the needy, and the underprivileged
Scott R. Fulkerson
VP of Operations
Prior to this assignment, Special Agent Fulkerson was a Project Officer in the Explosives Training Branch, Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia and was then promoted to Program Manager for the Home Made Explosives training program at the National Center for Explosives Training and Research, Huntsville, Alabama for which he received the Johnny A. Masengale Memorial Award. He also served as the National Bomb Squad Commander for ATF. Special Agent Fulkerson started with ATF in Baltimore, Maryland and proudly served as a Special Agent Bomb Technician and Certified Explosives Specialist and was assigned to the North East National Response Team. Special Agent Fulkerson received the U.S. Attorney General’s award in recognition for his work on the Washington Area Serial Arsonist Case. Special Agent Fulkerson is currently an instructor for the University of Virginia, National Criminal Justice Command College and an adjunct professor for Waynesburg University Criminal Justice Master’s Program. Prior to joining ATF, Special Agent Fulkerson was a U.S. Probation and Parole Officer in Brooklyn N.Y. for three years. He is a graduate of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Leaders in Police Organization Course and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Public Administration and has over 25 years of law enforcement experience.
Jennifer Hutcherson
Operations Manager
Col (Ret) Gerardo Meneses
Director of Business Planning Strategy
He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps and branch-detailed to Armor branch. He graduated from West Point with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Psychology and later completed Masters of Education Degree at Long Island University. His military education includes Armor Officer's Basic Course, the Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course, the Basic Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course, the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) and the Joint Forces Staff College. COL Meneses most recently completed a Senior Service College Fellowship at the University of Denver's Korbel School of International Studies.
Colonel Meneses' assignments include the 1-66 Armor Battalion, Fort Hood, TX serving as a tank platoon leader, tank company
executive officer and BN assistant operations officer during their deployment to Operation Sea Signal at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. At Fort Hood he also served as the Brigade Maintenance Officer in the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. He then served as a Company Commander of the 18th Ordnance Company (EOD), Fort Bragg, NC. Following that assignment, he returned to West Point to complete his master's degree and serve as a Tactical Officer overseeing cadet company E-1 at the USMA. Following
graduation from the CGSC, he was assigned as the Executive officer of the 184th Ordnance Battalion (EOD) and deployed with
them in support of Operation OIF III. To leverage his combat experience and technical expertise he was assigned to the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization in Washington, DC to oversee the rapid development, procurement and fielding of CREW (Counter Radio-controlled IED Electronic Warfare) and Force-Protection equipment. He was then assigned to Fort
Carson, Colorado where he served as the operations officer and then Commander of the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) (PROV),
prior to assuming command of the 242d Ordnance Battalion (EOD). During command he established a model training program
with local, state & federal public safety bomb squads and TSA. He later deployed the BN to Afghanistan from July 2013 to July
2014 ISO OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, where he commanded JTF Paladin and all joint-service EOD units supporting conventional forces in Afghanistan. He was most recently assigned as the Director of the Asia Pacific C-IED Fusion Center, Fort
Shafter, HI.
SGT. Brian Knudsen
Director of Business Relations / Board Member
It is these experiences and the tight knit
community of Bomb Technicians that inspire him to want to provide support and training to Bomb Squads around the country. Brian recognizes the many obstacles Bomb Squads across the nation encounter such as costly training and constrained department budgets. His goal is to raise awareness to private entities about these obstacles in order to build financial partnerships which support USBTA's training mission and contribute to the safety of their communities.
Brian Johnson
Director of Marketing
Brian Bio
Once a servant, always a servant. My heart is rooted in service to America and our community. For 8 Years I served in the U.S. Army as a Wrecker Operator and Public Affairs Officer. I served one combat tour in Iraq attached to the 101st and recorded 183 mounted missions across the country. I also served brief deployments in Germany, Kuwait, and El Salvador.
In addition to serving in the Army, I served 12 years as a Deputy Sheriff for the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office and was assigned to the jail, court services, traffic safety, and as an academy instructor. Training became a passion of mine and I was certified as a Firearms Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Use of Force Instructor, and a CPR/First Aid Instructor.
After leaving both the military and law enforcement, I dedicated my life to giving back to various nonprofits that include Special Olympics, The Honor Flag, the USBTA, and serving as a mentor for the Veterans Treatment Court. About a year ago, I co-founded WarriorNow.org as a way to serve our Veterans impacted by Mental Illness, PTSD, TBI, and Addiction and act as a spokesman for Veteran Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
Christopher A. Rogers
Training Program Manager
Chris is also a contract instructor for the United States Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security Antiterrorism Assistance Program. In four years, he has authored ten training programs for partner nation bomb squads and delivered over twenty five workshops, consultations and mentorships in seven different nations. He is also an advisor/mentor to the Indonesian National Police Bomb Squad, Philippine EOD-K9 Branch and Royal Thai Police Bomb Squad.
Prior to these he served as the Pima County Sheriff's Department Bomb Squad Commander for the Pima Regional Bomb Squad in Tucson, Arizona. As a 25-year police veteran and 15-year bomb technician with extensive experience in operations including: counter IED, homemade explosives (HME), US-Mexico border, dismounted bomb squad tactics, tactical integration of bomb technicians, and patrol tactics. Chris' first supervisory assignment was as a patrol sergeant for a squad responsible for law enforcement operations in remote regions along the border. He was one of the first bomb technicians in the United States to become a nationally certified Tactical Bomb Technician by the FBI.
Chris received six weeks of advanced training from the Israeli National Police, which included a two-week imbed in Tel Aviv, providing a firsthand look into Israeli tactics and techniques.
He has testified as an expert witness in improvised explosive device (IED) and explosives cases in state and federal court and has received numerous awards and commendations for his work as a peace officer and bomb technician.
Shirley Short
Senior Analyst
Christopher W. Skillman
Technical Consultant
He was certified as a Special Agent Bomb Technician (SABT) in July 2004. His FBI assignments included the Denver Division from 1997 until 2010 and the Birmingham Division from 2010 until 2016. He was promoted to be a Supervisory SABT at Hazardous Devices School in April 2016 and assumed program management responsibility for Certification Training on October 1, 2018. Chris has extensive experience with international and domestic terrorism investigations, crime scene processing, render safe procedures, command post operations, special event planning/support and training.
ADVISORS
Eugene J. "Gene" Squires
Government Affairs Advisor
eugenesquires@gmail.com
Mr. Squires became Director of Government Affairs for the United States Bomb Technicians Association November 14, 2016. Mr. Squires is a retired EOD Soldier and President of the U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Association; member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians & Investigators; and life member and Chairman, EOD Committee of the National Defense Industrial Association.
Mr. Kevin Miles
Lecturer
Kevin.Miles@eku.edu
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after 23 years as a Special Agent Bomb Technician. For the past 3 years, he has been· teaching pre-and post- blast investigation techniques as a government contractor to students from around the world. He is a 1989 graduate of the FBl's Hazardous Devices School in Huntsville, AL. At that time, he was a member of the Tulsa, OK Police Department Bomb Squad. In 1990, after eight years as a police officer, he joined the FBI. He served in the Gallup, NM, Buffalo, NY and Los Angeles, CA Field Offices. While in Los Angeles, he was named the FBl's first officially assigned full-time bomb technician. He served in that capacity for more than 17 years.
Eric J. Gahagan
Advisor
Eric has a vast amount of experience relative to explosive detection canine training and operations, homemade explosives, SWAT interoperability, and counter IED response with more than 3,000 calls to service as a bomb technician.Eric has lectured hundreds of times to both public and private sector and shared the operational lessons learned responding to the Boston Marathon Attack while providing training relative to a progressive dismounted approach to counter IED operations, Homemade Explosives, Robot Operations and Explosive Breaching.
In 2015, Eric formed the OPS15 LLC, which connects some of the most experienced and progressive operators internationally for the purposes of training, consulting and preparing others and serves as consulting partner and advisor to many technology partners in the areas of explosives detection and mitigation, robotics, diagnostics, and dismounted operations.
In January 2016, OPS15 Field Operations Group began providing security to clients in need of a progressive solution to emerging hazardous threats providing innovative techniques to our clients to ensure a safe environment for large venues exceeding 60,000 people as well as small high-level meetings and personal protection of executives. Eric became a founding partner at 6 WATCH Inc. in August of 2017 and brought his public safety expertise to develop a first of its kind lidar assisted 360 threat detection and alert system for public safety vehicles. In 2019, Eric took a position as Senior Direct of Business Development with EPE North America focusing on putting cutting edge technology into the hands of first responders with the customer service and support that the market deserves and desires.
Dr. Ed Bundy
Program Manager
edwin.bundy@cttso.gov
Captain Brett A. Reissener
United States Navy (Retired)
reissener@knology.net
USS NITRO (AE-23). In January of 1981 he returned to NAVSCOLEOD to complete the full curriculum and graduated with academic honors in January 1982. Captain Reissener then reported back to EODMU TWO where he made deployments to Scotland; the Caribbean; and to Beirut, Lebanon. He transferred to EODGRU TWO Detachment Charleston, SC in June 1983 and was advanced to his highest enlisted rank, HT1 (DV/PJ) in January 1985.
Captain Reissener was commissioned in May 1985 following completion of Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, RI. While at OCS, he was awarded the Seaport 76 Leadership Award for outstanding performance as Regimental Commander. He then completed Surface Warfare Officer; Basic Diving Officer; Salvage Officer; First Class Diver; and Saturation Diver training. In April 1987, he was assigned to USS ORTOLAN (ASR-22) as the Deep Submergence Diving Officer where he supervised the completion of several open ocean saturation dives. Upon completion of his tour aboard USS ORTOLAN, Captain Reissener transferred to EODMU TWO, Little Creek, VA as EOD Detachment Officer in Charge. While serving there, he deployed to Naval Special Warfare Development Group helping establish the standard for future EOD support to Special Operations Forces. In October 1991, he reported to EODMU SIX, Charleston, SC as Operations Officer. During this tour he deployed to the North
Atlantic aboard USS INCHON (LPH-12) as the UMCM Officer on Mine Countermeasures Group TWO staff. Captain Reissener was then assigned as Officer in Charge, EODMU TWO Detachment Norfolk in April 1994. While at Detachment Norfolk, Captain Reissener had the opportunity to conduct numerous EOD missions including: long range parachute insertions to Puerto Rico and Cuba; an at-sea parachute insertion onto an underway U.S. Navy submarine; and an off-shore disposal of a live unexploded WWII sea mine that had become entangled in a fishing trawler’s net. From July 1996 to June 1998, Captain Reissener served as U.S. Naval Forces Marianas Guam, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations/Ordnance. While there he participated in Joint Task Force Pacific Haven responsible for the relocation of Kurdish refugees out of Iraq. Captain Reissener was transferred to EODMU FIVE, Guam in July 1998 and served there as Executive Officer. In July 2000 he was transferred to Second Fleet/Striking Fleet Atlantic where he served as Staff Operations/Plans Officer specializing in Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Deep Sea Diving and Salvage, and Underwater Mine Countermeasures. Captain Reissener was then assigned as Commanding Officer, EODMU SIX in Charleston, SC and completed that rewarding tour of duty in August 2005. He then reported to Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in Fort Bragg, NC as the senior EOD Advisor to the Commanding General. While at JSOC he made several combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan in support of classified direct action missions. Captain Reissener reported to Naval EOD Technology Division in April 2008, was honored to serve there as the Commanding Officer and retired from active duty on the 24th of September 2010 after more than 31 years of honorable and faithful service.
Captain Reissener completed his Bachelor of Science degree by attending night school at the Baptist College of Charleston and graduated from the University of The State of New York in March 1985. He is also a 2003 graduate of the Industrial College of The Armed Forces, National Defense University where he completed a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy.
Captain Reissener is a qualified EOD Officer; Surface Warfare Officer; Deep Sea Diving and Salvage Officer; Saturation Diving Officer; Joint Qualified Officer; Master EOD Technician; and Naval Parachutist. His personal decorations include: The Defense Superior Service Medal; the Bronze Star Medal (two awards); Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (three awards); Joint Service Commendation Medal (two awards); Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards); Joint Service Achievement Medal; and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He is authorized to wear the Combat Action Ribbon along with numerous other unit and campaign awards including the Presidential Unit Citation
After retiring from Navy, Captain Reissener has worked for various companies focused on EOD, Counter-IED, and support to Special Operations Forces. He forward deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2013 as a contractor managing a program that provided armed instructors/facilitators to U.S. forces and supported Combined Joint Task Force Paladin. Presently he is employed by Cayuse Federal Services as the Joint EOD Programs Special Assistant to Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Indian Head Division (IHD) EOD Department - formerly known as Naval EOD Technology Division (NAVEODTECHDIV). Mr. Reissener also volunteers his time and effort as a member of the Board of Directors, Navy
League of The United States Charleston Council; a South Carolina Ambassador for the EOD Warrior Foundation (EODWF), and as the Navy Representative on the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) EOD Committee.
LtCol Jason Perry
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Marine Corps Explosive Ordnance Disposal Occupational Field Sponsor
LtCol Perry enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 1997, attending boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of recruit training, he attended Marine Combat Training and subsequently attended Ammunition School in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Upon completion of Ammunition School, Private First Class Perry reported to Combat Service Support Group 3, Hawaii for duty. Upon successful completion of duty in Hawaii, then Sergeant Perry transferred to Marine Corps Security Force Company, Kings Bay Georgia to serve as their Ammunition Chief.
In 2002, Sergeant Perry was accepted for a lateral move into the Explosive Ordnance Disposal MOS.
In 2003, Sergeant Perry reported to EOD Platoon, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, Okinawa Japan. During this time, Sergeant Perry supported numerous exercises as well as participated in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM supporting Joint Special Operation Task Force 510-Philippines.
In 2004, Staff Sergeant Perry reported to Marine Corps Base Quantico serving as EOD Team Leader as well as Operations Chief. During this time, he supported numerous MIL-to-MIL exchanges as well as supported the Presidential White House detail.
In 2008, Gunnery Sergeant Perry was selected for appointment to Warrant Officer and attended the Warrant Officer Basic School (WOBC). Upon successful completion of WOBC, Warrant Officer Perry was assigned to EOD Platoon, 7th Engineer Support Battalion.
As an EOD Officer, LtCol Perry has served as a Platoon Commander and Company Operations Officer within the Fleet Marine Force deploying in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan in 2008 and 2010. Additionally, LtCol Perry has served as the EOD Capabilities Integration Officer at Marine Corps Combat Development Command and Officer in Charge, Marine Detachment, Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head EOD Technology Division.
LtCol Perry’s civilian education includes an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice from Park University (2006), and a Bachelor of Arts, with distinction, in Organizational Leadership from the University of Oklahoma (2019). He is currently working towards his Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from the University of Oklahoma. LtCol Perry’s military education includes non-resident Expeditionary Warfare School (2012), and he is a distinguished graduate of blended seminar Command and Staff College (2017)
Dr. John "JD" Olive
Advisor
and sustainment programs, encompassing 1,500 Unit Type Codes, a $1B resources portfolio, $300M, 5-year program central procurement program, a $91M Air Force demolition munitions inventory for 19 career fields, directly enabling the Organize, Train, and Equip of 1,700 Total Force EOD Airmen at 84 locations worldwide. As Air Force SME, Dr. Olive is the service focal point for DoD Operational Environmental Executive Services Committee on Munitions, Department of Defense Explosive Safety Board (DDESB) for EOD issues, and other joint and national level committees developing DoD and industry unexploded explosive ordnance (UXO) standards. Chairs the EOD Information Management System Joint Configuration Control Board (EODIMS JCCB) on incident reporting and data sharing. He develops concept and operational plans to orchestrate the implementation of new programs into existing Air Force architecture, such as Rapid Explosive Hazard Mitigation to enable Airfield Damage Recovery operations, a $2.7B portfolio, is accountable for development of tactics, techniques, and procedures for all nine-core EOD mission areas, and is the final authority for technical issue resolution. Dr. Olive Olive joined the Air Force in May 1982, and served honorably for over 25 years, retiring August, 2007 as the Air Force EOD Career Field Manager. In this position, then Chief Master Sergeant Olive established manpower, equipment, training, and classification requirements for 1,700 Airman at 52 active duty and 25 Guard and Reserve installations. Chief Olive was the EOD focal point for the Civil Engineer Blue Suit Review; efforts gained 159 funded enlisted positions, Chaired EOD Optimization Plan, realigned forces into four distinct flight sizes, advocated for and garnered Headquarters Air Force EOD Program Director position, and drove stand-up of Combat Battlefield Ready Airmen (CoBRA) Course, enhancing combat readiness of our EOD force, while proving “Airmen training Airmen” is model for success. Upon his retirement, Dr. Olive continued his service to the Air Force, serving as the Chief, EOD Branch, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Civil Engineer Operations and Readiness Division, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. During this period, Dr. Olive was responsible for the Air Force Space Command EOD programs at 7 major installations and 65 Geographically Separated Units. Directly responsible for developing EOD concept and operational plans in support of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and United States Space Launch Systems, and Weapons Recovery Group Lead for the nuclear Response Task Force, before assuming his current position in November, 2014.
1SG David A. Grotkin
Special Board Member
He conducted multiple combat operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq while supporting both conventional and special operation's counter IED missions. While not deployed, David supported state and local public safety on numerous EOD incidents throughout the United States.
David's goal is to bring both public safety and military bomb technicians together to learn from each other. He feels strongly about training and equipment and, understands that his community can only benefit from excellent training and great equipment. He believes that the joint experience from these two communities can only make them stronger and lead to a lasting partnership.
JOIN US
Donate Today!
Your donation assists the United States Active Bomb Technicians get the training and resources we so desperately need.
USBTA Pledge
We are committed to creating an environment that maximizes industry's exposure to the bomb disposal community while focusing on enhancing trainings for active bomb technicians.
We offer online trainings through our Remote Training Program and in person trainings through our Technology Training Exercises.
We want to bring the bomb disposal community closer together. Find out how we can do more.
Did you know that when you donate to USBTA you are donating to making a difference in the lives of our community. Find out more!