Speakers

Vassilis Kikilias is the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.  Prior to his post he served as Minister of Tourism (2021-2023), Minister of Health (2019-2021) and Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection (2014-2015)  He is an elected member of the Greek Parliament since 2012.

Vassilis was born in Athens in 1974 and is an orthopedic surgeon with a PhD from the Medical School of the University of Athens.  As a professional basketball player he has played for Panionios BC, AEK BC and the Greek National Team.  He is married and has one son.

Zisoula Ntasiou is a Fire Lieutenant Colonel in the Hellenic Fire Corps, part of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection and the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.  She graduated from the Hellenic Fire Academy in 2002, in addition she holds a degree and a master degree in Forestry (School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki).

For the last 19 years Zisoula has been working as a Duty Officer in the Natioal Coordination Center for Operations and Crisis Management of the Hellenic Fire Corps in Athens and during the summer in the Aerial Fire Fighting Coordination Center-Unit 2.  During every fire seasion, she liaises with the Departments of the Hellenic Army, Air Force, Hellenic Police and representatives of private companies' helicopters.  In addition she organizes and participates as a speaker in all aerial firefighting meetings, workshops and conferences.

In 2017, Zisoula was a member of the Forest Fires prone countries experts group in the Emergency Response Cordination Centre (ERCC) in Brussels.  She is also the secretary of the Forest Fires Commission of the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF).  In October 2021 she attended, as a speaker, at the Aerial Firefighting Europe conference in Tallinn, Estonia, and in March 2022 at the Aerial Firefighting North America conferene in San Diego, California

Zisoula is married and is a mother of a 15 year old son.  In her free time, Zisoula enjoys spending time with her family, climbing, photography and playing music.  She is optimistic and positive, she sets goals and achieves them.

Claire Kowalewski is colonel in the French fire services.  She has signed her first contract as volunteer 30 years ago before becoming professional with a strong scientific studies background.  She has been working in civil protection at local, regional, national and international levels.  She had to deal with various types of emergencies such as forest fires, floods, terrorist attack, crash of airliner aircraft, rescue at sea, etc.  She is now seconded to the European Commission at Directorate General ECHO (European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations) where she brings her expertise and experience.  As she has been dealing for many years with forest firefighting in Southern France, she is naturally involved in the preparation of the forest fires season at EU level, developing common Standard Operating Procedures, working on the development of an European aerial forest firefighting fleet called rescEU or preparing innovative projects to increase the EU level of preparedness.  She has also been deployed many times as expert on forest fires emergencies (Australia, Bulgaria, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Canada, etc) within the EU civil protection mechanism on behalf of French Authorities or as European Emergency Response Coordinatino Centre liaison officer.

George James Tsunis presented his credential to the President of the Hellenic Republic on May 10, 2022.  He was nominated by President Biden and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 10, 2022.

Ambassador Tsunis is the proud Greek-American son of immigrants to the United States, with deep roots in the village of Platanos in the beautiful mountainous region of Nafpaktia.  Growing up, his parents instilled in him the Hellenic ideals of καλοσύνη (goodness), αγάπη (love), and above all, φιλότιμο (the love of honor).  he learned Greek as his first language.  Deeply engaged with the Greek-American community, Ambassador Tsunis was a founding trustee of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, and is a trustee of the Hellenic Initiative among other roles.

Prior to his nomination, Ambassador Tsunis was the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Chartwell Hotels, LLC.  He served as Chairman of the Battery Park City Authority.  He was also a Trustee for the New York City Convention Development Corporation and the New York City Convention Operating Corporation and helped manage a 1.5 million square foot expansion of the New York Convention Center, transforming it into one of the world's most modern and beautiful convention centers.  Ambassador Tsunis served as the chairman of the Nassau University Medical Center, a large public safety net hospital with a focus on providing care to vulnerable communities.

Previously, Ambassador Tsunis was a Counsel and Partner (Attorney of Law), at Rivkin Radler LLP, Uniondale, NY, and Legislative Attorney, New York City Council.  He served as Counsel for Dix Hills Water District, Dix Hills, NY and Town of Huntington Committee on Open Space Preservation, Huntington, NY.

Ambassador Tsunis earned a B.A. from the New York University, New York, NY and a J.D. from St John's University of Law, Queens, NY.  He was an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (Order of Saint Andrew), the highest ecclesiastical honor that can be bestowed upon a layman by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for Long Island Cares and the lifetime achievement award for civic engagement for Long Island Business News.  Ambassador Tsunis is married and has three children.

The Chief of Staff of the Fire Brigade, Lieutenant General Christos Lambris of Alexandrou, was born in Arta in 1966, is married and the father of two children.

He joined the Fire Brigade in 1994 and in 1995 he graduated from the Officer School of the Fire Academy with the rank of Fire Fighter.  He is a Graduate of the Department of Forestry and Natural Environment of the School of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

In 2000 he studied at the School of Political Emergency Planning (PSEA) of the Ministry of Public Instruction.  In 2007 and 2008 he participated in the Training School of the European Program "F.I.R.E 4" on cross-border cooperation in natural disasters in Aix Du Provence, France and in Madrid respectively.  In 2008, he attended the US Forest Service's Aerial Firefighting Management School and trained as an aerial firefighter dispatcher (ATGS).  In the same year, he participated in a training seminar of the Civil Protection of France in Asnieres on the subject of "Forest Fires".  In 2009, he participated in a mission of the Headquarters of the Fire Brigade in Australia to study the organization of Forest Firefighting.  In 2010, he attended the Officers' Training School P.S. and in 2011 at the School of National Defense (S.ETHA).  In 2013, he participated in an exercise of the European Civil Protection Mechanism in Croatia on the subject of "Forest Fires".  He is a lecturer at the National Center for Public Administration and Self-Government (EKDA) in the field of Disaster Management and has been a regular professor at the School of Fire Prevention and the School of Education.  In 2014, he was appointed chairman of a joint committee of officers of the Armed Forces and the Air Force, for the drafting and study of the renewal of the National Aircraft Fleet.

He was promoted to all ranks of the highest officer by choice, received many moral awards, and was honored with all the prescribed medals and commemorations.

He served as an Operations Officer at the 2nd Fire Station of Athens and at the 1st E.M.A.K., where he served as Head of the Airborne Infantry Department and Deputy Commander.  He held various staff positions at the Fire Brigade Headquarters, such as Director of the Aerial Media Directorate, Head of the Office of the Inspector General of Southern Greece, Head of the Chief's Staff Office.  He also served as Head of the Office of the General Secretary of Civil Protection.  In 2019 he was appointed Commander of the Athens Fire Services Administration and in February 2020 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and occupied the position of Operations Coordinator P.S. Attica.  In January 2021, he was appointed as Head of the Operations Branch of the Fire Department.

He has taken part in many rescue and firefighting operations, operating from various positions including that of Aerial Coordinator for a number of years.  Examples include:  the earthquak in Athens in 1999, the forest fires of 2000 in Samos and Lefkara, Cyprus, the large fires of 2007 in Attica, the Peloponnese and Evia, in 2009 in northeastern Attica, in 2012 in Mount Athos, in 2017 in Kalamos, in 2018 in Kineta and Dau Pentelis Attica and finally in the floods of 2003 in Moschato and in 2017 in Mandra Attica.

Colonel Elias Veloudos is the Commander of the 355 TAS (Tactical Airlift Squadron).

He is responsible for the organization, staffing, training, evaluation, preparation for the aerial firefighting mission and readiness of the Canadair CL-215 pilots, which are the personnel of the 355 TAS.

Colonel Veloudos graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1997 and after completing his flight training, in February 1999, assigned to the 355 TAS as a CL-215 Canadair pilot.  With over 20 years experience in aerial firefighting missions, he has completed over 3000 flight hours.

Also he has attended the Executive MBA program in Piraeus University.

Born in Athens, and married with 2 children.

Anastasios Michalopoulos is a Fire Colonel in the Hellenic Fire Service, part of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection and the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.  He graduated from the Hellenic Fire Academy in 2002, in addition he holds a degree in Theology (School of Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki).

During the previous years Anastasios Michalopoulos served in the Finance Department of the Fire Service Headquarters, as a head of the Fire Academy Training Office, as an operational duty officer in the National Coordination Center for Operations and Crisis Management in Athens and as a Commander in the Fire Service in Naxos.  The last year he is the head of the Unit 2 - Air Operations of the National Coordination Center for Operations and Crisis Management (N.C.C.O.C.M.) coordinating all the aerial means all over Greece.

Anastasios is married and he is a father of a 20 year old daughter.  In his free time he enjoys to read Ancient Greek Literature, listen to music and playing sports.  He is also studying in the Law School at Democritus University of Thrace.

Lieutenant-Colonel in the military civil protection Corps, Fabrice is in charge of forest fires for the French Civil Proteciton and Crisis Management Directorate. 

After a brief career in the infantry, he has been serving in the civil protection corps for over twenty years. 

He has all the qualifications required for the firefighting profession (site manager, use of ground and aerial retardants, aerial investigation).  After an initial career as a specialist in helicopter operations, particularly forest fires (2002-2008), Fabrice was head of the southern zone operations center for 2 terms (2008-2010 & 2015-2019) and head of operations at the civil security military unit headquarters (2012-2015). 

He has been involved in forest fires since 2003 and has contributed to the development, mangement and feedback of all forest fire campaigns in the Mediterranean region.

Since 2019 he has been in charge of forest fires for the whole country and assist the COGIC in its international commitments in this specialty.  He has been involved in training or operational missions in Greece, Croatia, Jordan and Mexico.

Tiago M. Oliveira (Porto-1969) is an Expert in forest fire risk management and governance.  His political and managerial experience is grounded on 25 years of operation and research activities as incident commander, aerial coordinator, hotshot crew or regular wildland firefighting.

He holds a PhD in Forest Engineering and Natural Resources at University of Lisbon.

In the aftermath of 2017 wildfires he was appointed by the Prime-Minister to lead the Installation of the Integrated Rural Fire Management System. Since January 2019, his is the Chairman of the Board of the Portuguese Agency that assure the strategical coordinatino of the system.

Former Head of the Department of Innovation and Forestry Development (2016-2017) and Forest Risk Manager (2008-2016) at the Navigator Company, where he covered fire prevention and suppression operational programs and R&D projects in the scope of MIT-Portugal.

Assistant Lecturer at MedFor Master (2013-2017) at University of Lisbon and Executive Coordinator of the Technical proposal of the National Fire Plan (2005) and advisor for the XV and XVII Portuguese Goverments (2004), Head of forest development unit (2000-2003), Head of Inventory and GIS unit (1998-2000) and Assistant Research (1994-1998) at the University Lisbon and National Geographic Agency.

Besides several communications and papers he developed his personal and professional skills in strategy, planning, risk analysis, forest investment, change management, communication, project management, natural resource survey, GIS and remote sensing.

Luc began his career in forest protection as a development engineer at the SOPFEU regional base in Val-d'Or where he was promoted to head of land operations in 2000. 

In 2010, he moved to a position of management at the head office in Quebec.

Since 2018, he has been director of the Provincial Control Center.  As such, he is involved in several strategic issues at the provincial, national and international levels.

Luc Dugas first worked in the forestry industry for around ten years in Abitibi, the Hautes-Laurentides and the north of Lac-Saint-Jean.  

He trained as a forest engineer at Laval University and has since been a member of the Order of Forest Engineers of Quebec.

Johann Georg Goldammer is Director of the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) and professor for landscape fire ecology and management at Freiburg University, Germany.  The GFMC provides a global portal for landscape fire documentation, information and monitoring.  The GFMC cooperates with the UN Officer for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) through the Science and Technology Partnership, and - mandated by the former Interagency Task Force of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) - as coordinator of the Global Wildland Fire Network and the Wildland Fire Advisory Group.  As Secretariat of the International Wildfire Preparedness Mechanism (IWPM) the GFMC coordinates a Voluntary Commitment for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.  The IWPM offers support to countries, directly or through assistance of international organizations, in the development, application, adoption or acculturation of natural fire management policies and strategies and cross-boundary cooperation in fire management.

In Europe the GMFC is service as a Specialised Euro-Mediterranean Centre under the European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement.  The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has tasked the GFMC to implement of the Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction agenda, based on a Ministerial Council Decision of 57 Participating States of 2014.  For the response to wildfire emergencies in the GFMC provides an emergency hotline and liaison capabilities to provide rapid assessment, decision support and follow-up under a cooperation agreement with UNOCHA's Emergency Services Branch.

The GFMC is acting as Secretariat of the International Fire Aviation Working Group (IFAWG) and has accompanied the Aerial Firefighting Conferences since the launching event in Greece in 2008.

Michelle has  been working with the NSW RFS for the past 4 years, on both secondment and now as a permanent staff member.  In addition, she has been a volunteer with the NSW State Emergency Service for the past 29 years and was awarded the Emergency Service Medal in 2020.

Michelle has been involved in aviation operations for the past 15 years and has been involved in many deployments to airbases covering bush fires, flooding and storms.

Menelaos Andresakis is a Fire Major in the Hellenic Fire Corps.  He graduated from the Hellenic Fire Academy in 2006, in addition he holds a degree in Physical Education and Sport Science (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki).

From November 2017 until now he service as an Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS), Hoist Operator, BambiBucket operator, Crew Member in the Helicopter Squadron of the Hellenic Fire Brigade.

He is also certified in the European Civil Protection Mechanism (U.C.P.M).

Professional Experience:

•  Electrical Engineer, Higher Technological Education Institute

•  Work experience of 3 years in the above field before his assignment to the Fire Department

Fire Department:

Headquarters of the Fire Department (FD)

Operations Division/Firefighting Directorate/Unmanned Aircraft Department

Serving in the Fire Department for 17 years

Assigned to the Unmanned Aircraft Department as its head since 2019

He is an operator of unmanned aircraft systems and the leader of the Unmanned Aircraft Team at Headquarters

Successfully completed the Ground Flight Safety School of the Hellenic Air Force

Currently pursing a degree in Natural Sciences at the Hellenic Open University in Patras (3rd Year)

Pierre was born in November 1963.

1982:             Entered the French Air Force

1984-1991:    Figher pilot at the 11th Tactical Figher Wing on Jaguar.  Many deployment in Africa.  Involved in the first Gulf war.

1991-1995:    Pilot in the French Team «Patrouille de France».  Left wingman, solo wingman, solo leader and spare pilot.

1995-1997:    Squadron leader of the French military aerobatic team.

1997:             Air Force retired.

1998-1999:    First officer in a French airline company.

1999:             Entered the French «Sécurité Civile».

1999-2000:    Beech 200, Transport, Fire Coordination.

2000-2002:    First officer Canadair CL 415.

2002-2007:    Captain S2FT Tracker.

From 2007:    Captain Canadair CL 415, CL 415 Safety Officer Instructor (TRI) / Examiner (TRE) / Senior Examiner (SE).

2014-2018:    Safety officer of the French «Sécurité Civile» fixed wing fleet.

2018-2023:    French Canadair CL 415 Head of Unit.

2023:             Retired.  TRI/TRE/SE on CL 415 Full Flight Simulator.

Vittorio Barlocci is 58 years old.  He began flying in 1991 at the Italian Air Force flight school.  He holds a CPL (H) flight license and is certified on Bell 412 and S-64F helicopters, on both of which he carries out command duties and he is certified as an instructor and examiner.  He was a simulator instructor.

Today he is employed by the Italian fire brigade where he takes care of the national COAN certification for fireflighting operations and for HESLO activities (moving heavy loads) with the S-64F helicopter and he is appointed flight operations post holder and training manager.

He has spent his professional life in civil protection activities, firefighting operations and pilot training and control.

Francesco Chiappino is 29 years old ATPL/IR pilot, Flight and FSTD instructor, Type Rating instructor on Bell 212/412 and recently rated on S064 and he is the nominated Chief Theoretical knowledge Instructor for Heli Protection Europe Approved Training Organization.

Francesco operated as pilot on Bell 412 for the World Food Program in Africa; in Heli Protection Europe he is in charge of all the theoretical trainings and instruct in both helicopter and FSTD for ab-initio and recurrent trainings.

He is the co-program manager together with the Head of Training, Stefano Bianchetti, for the ab-initio CPL courses HPE provide to "Corpo Nazionale Vigili del Fuoco".

He is one of the first two pilots that have undertaken the training on the S-64 using mainly a FSTD simulator with mission capabilities than combined with helicopter training provided in conjunctino with VVF EASA qualified instructors, brought him to take part in the support program during the Fire Fighting season 2023 on behalf of "Corpo Nazionale Vigili del Fuoco".

In Heli Protection Europe, together with the team, he collaborates to develop the training programs combing the use of FSTD devices and helicopter to simulate mission scenarious that include all the actors involved in the firefighting operations from the flying and ground crews to the fire manager.

Doctor Frederique Giroud is the director of CEREN, the testing and experimentation Center of ENTENTE Valabre.

She holds a PhD in Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer.  She collaborates with scientists, fire fighters and crisis managers to conduct various projects at the national and European level.  Her main areas of research related to forest fires are fluid mechanic, fire spread modelling, chemical additives, wildland-urban interface management and fire instrumentation.  Furthermore, she is in charge of establishing contacts between French scientists and European stakeholders in fire fighting domain.  In the frame of the H2020 and FP7 Security call, she participated to the organization of various field tests in the context of crisis management with the participation of international experts and observers.  The objectives of those field tests are mainly devoted to the Proof of Concept of supporting tools for a better crisis management.

Since 2018, she manages the referenced laboratory for the French Standardization of the firefighter equipment.

Moreover since 2021, CEREN is the approved inspection laboratory of the French Civil Protection in the chemical additives area.

Professor V. Lappas graduated with a B. Eng in Aerospace Engineering at Ryerson University (Toronto, Canada), his MSc in Space Technology at NASA (Goddard Space Flight Centre) through the International Space University (France) and his PhD in Space Vehicle Control at the University of Surrey (UK).  He has led various signifciant research grants on satellite technology, space missions, space debris, funded by the United States Air Force, NASA, Airbus, European Space Agency, European Commission.  He has managed substantial research grants including the EU funded QB50, RemoveDEBRIS space missions and the European Defence Agency EuroSWARM project which is one of Europe's first Defence R&D pilot projects.  He is currently Professor of Aerospace Systems and Department Head at the Department of Aerospace Science & Technology of the University of Athens (Greece) and a Consulting Professor in Aerospace Systems at Cranfield University (UK).  His current research includes development of unmanned vehicles for defence applications, satellite/space systems, launch vehicle design, small satellites funded by the EU, United States Air Force and European Space Agency.  He also teaches Flight Controls, Dynamics and Satellite Communications at Cranfield University and supervises MSc student projects and PhD researchers for the MSc in Astronautics/Space and Autonomous systems (AVDC).

Jean-Frédéric Biscay is the Deputy Director of CEREN.  He has a strong operational expertise on forest fire management and is a forest fire division chief.  Besides these operational activities, he is a member of several steering groups and works on flood prediction model and water management.  Jean-Frédéric belongs to the French higher civil protection committee (HCFDC) and to the ENSOSP's (National School Firefighter Officer) Management Board.  He manages the aerial simulation training (SECOAS) in Nimes.  He is responsible for the UAV training on civil protection missions in Nimes.

Jean-Christophe has more than 33 years with Sabena.

EDHEC, ELM, HEC.

He has experience in various management positions: Purchase, Military Program, Customer Support, Sales & Development, International.

All range of products for both military & civil aircraft.

Above all he is an "aviation fanatic"!!!

Mr. Dubravac is senior Fire Officer with 37 years of experience.  His career started as operational professional firefighter and fire officer for 19 years.  After than he was Head of Slovenian National Fire school for 9 years.

From 2015-2019 he was Fire Chief on Ljubljana International Airport.  Currently he is senior advisor in Fraport Aviation Academy in Ljubljana.

Mr. Dubravac was member of EU Forest fire expert group for 12 years.

He is also external lecturer in International Atomic Energy Agency for first responders.

From 2020 Milan Dubravac is president of CTIF - International Association of Fire Services.  It is oldest Fire Association in the world, established in 1900.

Hugo Arceo is Sales Manager for Air Tractor Europe, working in the European and North African markets. With more than 10 years of experience in the firefighting aviation sector, he has extensive experience in international trade, multicultural negotiation development and marketing strategy. Among other merits, Hugo has realized the sale of more than 100 firefighting aircraft and has created firefighting units in different countries around the world.

Frederic has over 25 years experience across the helicopter industry.  An aerospace engineer by trade, he worked initially in Avionics before joining Airbus Helicopters, where he held positions across Program, Sales and Business Development.

Sean Navin is the Program Director for Amentum Aviation working with Cal Fire at McClellan AB, Sacramento, California.  Amentum/Cal Fire is the gold standard in Aerial Firefighting and currently operates and maintains CALFIRE's S-2T air tankers, OV-10 air tactical aircraft, UH-1H Super Hueys, S-70i Blackhawks, C-130H training aircraft and Beechcraft King Airs.  The majority of the maintenance is performed at McClellan Park, near Sacramento, California.  During fire season, Amentum maintenance personnel and pilots are stationed at various air attack and Helitack bases strategically located through California to provide a quick and effective response to wildfires.

Col Navin (retired) began his military career in 1990 at the 134th Fighter Winger, Vermont Air National Guard, as an F-16 pilot.  Following eight years of service, Col Navin transferred to the 144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard.  Col Navin held multiple positinos within the 144th Fighter Wing to include: 144th Vice Wing Commander, 194th Fighter Squadron Commander, and Operations Support Commander.  Col Navin completed the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative (NPLI) senior leadership course at Harvard University, as well as completing the Joint and Combined Warfighting School-Hybrid (JCWS-H).  Col Navin closed his miltiary career as Commander of the 163d Attack Wing, California Air National Guard, March Air Reserve Base, California.  The 163d Attack Wing is comprised of more than 900 personnel.  The wing is the California Air National Guard's exclusive MQ-9A Reaper operatinos unit providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support, as well as tactical combat support, to commanders and war fighters around the world.  He is a command pilot with more than 2,300 flying hours in F-16s and F-15s; operations supported include: OPERATIONAL NOBLE EAGLE, OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH, and OPERATION CORONET NIGHTHAWK.

Michael Benson joined Conair after a 30-year career in wildfire, most recently leading the wildfire operations research program at FPInnovations, a non-for-profit research and development organization based in Canada.  Prior to FPInnovations, Michael led the airtanker program for British Columbia Wildfire Service, responding to wildfires spread over nearly 1 million sq kilometers with both amphibious water bombers and retardant airtankers.  Michael's hands-on experience in aerial firefighting, combined with his research in methods to protect forests and communities from wildfires, offers global agencies a wealth of support as they address the complex challenge of responding to escalating wildfire behaviour in the face of climate change.

An experienced S-64 pilot, mechanic, and project manager Gary Harman currently serves as the Erickson's country manager in Greece.  He is responsible for aerial fire operations performed with a fleet of ten Erickson S-64 helitankers operating from nine bases.  Gary and his team coordinate in-country with our partners AK Aviation and agencies including the Hellenic Fire Service, Hellenic Air Force, NSPA, and others to safeguard Greek communities and infrastructure.  Gary joined the Erickson team in 1993 so over three decades with the company.  This reflects his and his oeprations team's commitment to safety, mission focus, and dedication to the pilots, mechanics, ground personnel that are the core of Erickson's successful operations in Greece.

Edward (Eddie) Goldberg is the Vice Chairman for Perimeter Solutions.  He brings more than 18 years of executive leadership to fire safety products and operations.  Before joining Perimeter Solutions, Eddie was Business Director for ICL Performance Additives and Solutions, where he held general management responsibility for the company's global fire safety segment.  Eddie is credited with building ICL's global fire safety business, focusing on products for wildland fire management and municipal and industrial fire suppression.  Eddie holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University.

Mr. Carmine Russo serves as the Head of International Flight Training School IFTS for Leonardo Aircraft Division, where he deals with the Italian Air Force and CAE in promoting the activities of the IFTS worldwide.

Carmine is also head of Sales engineering for the Leonardo Aircraft Divisoin proprietary products.

Carmine, 48 years old, is an Aerospace Engiener graduated with full honors at University of Naples "Federico II" and followed several courses in trading, financing and project management.

He joined the Leonardo Aircraft Division in 2017 after several international experiences in France, Russia and Italy.

He has been working for ten years in SuperJet International - a Italian Russian joint venture on a regional aircraft - as Head of Marketing and Sales Engineering.

Before joining SuperJet, Carmine Russo worked in Toulouse (France) for ATR.

Jay Stalnacker has 25 years of experience providing government and private industry health, safety, disaster, and emergency management services.  His experience in emergency and disaster management includes serving as Operations Branch Director for the Pacific Northwest Federal Type 1 Incident Mangement Team (PNW2).  PNW2 is one of the only eight federal teams that respond across the world for complex disaster management.  Mr. Stalnacker previously served in non-military government special operations and a member of the elite Federal Smokejumper Program and has served as a commissioned SWAT police officer.

Mr. Stalnacker has served as incident commander and operations chief on numerous emergency and disaster incidents across the nation including 2014 Boulder, Colorado 1000 year-flood disaster, 2017 State of Oregon Eclipse Emergency Response Event and more recently the 2018 Hurricane Michael natural disaster.  He also served as a Colorado State Senate appointed investigative subject matter expert for the tragic North Fork Wildfire fatality investigation.  He has received two Silver Star medals, one Bronze Star medal and one Medal of Commendation for life saving actions and has been recognized for distinguished service by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, the State of Colorado and State of Oregon Emergency Mangement Offices.

Mr. Stalnacker holds a bachelor's degree in organizational leadershp from Colorado State University.  He is a certified health and safety trainer in numerous professional disciplines and considered a subject matter expert for disaster incident management and investigation.