Rick Goodman - Goodman and Associates

Rick is the founder of Goodman and Associates, a 35 year old company that teaches search and rescue and Incident Command System courses throughout the US and Canada.

A small sample of areas and organizations Goodman and Associates taught over the last few years include; US Border Patrol BORSAR at the Federal Law Enforcement Training center New Mexico, Employees at Carlsbad National Park New Mexico, Sheriff SAR deputies and SAR volunteers in Pagosa Springs Colorado, Sheriff deputies and SAR volunteers in Delores Colorado, Colorado Search and Rescue Board (CSRB) Gunnison Colorado, State wide SAR deputies Prescott Arizona, Sheriff deputies and SAR volunteers in Uinta, Lincoln and Sublets Counties in Wyoming. Areas outside the US includes: Whitehorse, Montreal, and St. Johns Canada, Northumbria England, and Bangor Wales.

In 2002, Rick retired as the New Mexico State Police official (Director) responsible for SAR (in New Mexico all search and rescue is under the authority of the New Mexico State Police). In that position he coordinated SAR resources and administered the New Mexico State SAR law. A significant part of his responsibility was the development of search and rescue training courses using the Incident Command System (ICS). In New Mexico there is a SAR incident every 36 hours.

Rick developed search and rescue training management programs for the certification of SAR volunteer Incident Commanders (125), State Police SAR Officers (500), and a basic SAR skill certification test for SAR volunteers (1500). He also acted as the ICS Agency Administrator designee representing the Chief of the New Mexico State Police during the operational phase of a SAR incident.

He was one of the authors of the New Mexico Search and Rescue Act (adopted into law in 1978). The act is considered by many throughout North America as one of the most efficient and effective SAR legislation in the US today.

Rick’s SAR experiences have been written about and referenced in many periodicals and books. Some examples are: Smithsonian Magazine, Readers Digest, Survival Sense for Pilots and Passengers, Transmitter Hunting (searching for missing aircraft using Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) location equipment).

In 2009 Texas A & M University ask Goodman and Associates to supply two SAR Subject Matter Experts to help develop the new FEMA Wide Area Search course. In 2010 over 36 of these courses will be taught (primary to FEMA Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). It is projected over 100 requests for this course will be received by FEMA in 2011.

Rick has also been used as an Expert Witness in search and rescue management training matters. He is past vice president and two-term board member of the National Association of Search and Rescue and is a recipient of their “SAR State Award”.

Barney Riley

Barney has over 10 years of experience in Search and Rescue field operations.  He has participated in missing person’s searches, evidence searches, and technical rescues in the Pacific Northwest and Desert Southwest.  He is an experienced SAR Incident Commander. 

Barney served as the team leader and assistant SAR coordinator for Clatsop County, Oregon where he received numerous awards for his leadership and organizational abilities.  He developed a SAR academy for training new volunteers and Sheriff’s Deputies and served as the primary SAR Incident Commander for the county.  He is the recipient of the “Sheriff’s Medal of Merit” which has only been awarded by the Sheriff’s department twice in 30 years (his wife Patricia received the other one for her work in establishing a K9 program in the county). Barney worked closely with his wife in developing the K9 unit for the team, and has worked with several K9 teams developing training and incident plans.

Barney is a skilled instructor who has been teaching the “Search Management Systems— A Practical Approach to Initiating and Directing Efforts to Resolve Lost Person Reports” for seven years.  Barney has contributed to course development over the past few years and has instructed courses for numerous SAR organizations in Oregon, Arizona, and Wyoming. 

Barney served 10 years on active duty as a Combat Engineer Officer.  He completed two overseas tours as a company executive officer and operations officer of a forward deployed battalion.  He has since worked in the private sector as a construction project manager, park manager for Oregon State Parks, and is currently working for the National Park Service at Saguaro National Park.  He remains active in search and rescue, working with local teams; instructing in subjects ranging from search management to land navigation and wilderness survival, and training with the K9 units.

Barney resides in Tucson, AZ with his wife and their tracking/cadaver canine Riki.

Anthony S. G. Jones, MBE, BSc, PhD.

Tony completed his schooling in Cape Town, South Africa in 1956. He went to the University of Cape Town where he graduated with a BSc in Geology and Geochemistry. Moving to the United Kingdom in 1963 he went to the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth where in 1968, he completed a thesis for a PhD in Marine Geology. He moved to the University College of North Wales, Bangor joining the staff of the Marine Science Labs. Apart from teaching he was Senior Warden of Halls of Residence responsible for the welfare of some 1300 students. He is now fully retired from university work.

Tony first became involved in mountain rescue in 1954 whilst still a school boy. He joined the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation in 1964. He served as Chairman for 22 years and was an active Team Leader for 31 years. He has been involved in over 890 SAR operations. Since 1980 he has been and still is actively involved in Search Planning and Management, both practise and teaching in a number of countries. Nowadays, the active field work is a thing of the past but activities in representation and liaison continue unabated. Currently he is Chairman of the North Wales Mountain Rescue Association and Vice-Chairman of Mountain Rescue England and Wales. He represents MR-EW on the UKSAR Operators Group and contributes to a number of the Working Parties.

In 1983 Tony was made an Honorary Pararescueman at the 67th ARRS, United States Air Force at RAF Woodbridge. In 1993 he was the subject of Thames television programme - "This is Your Life". In 1995 Queen's Birthday Honours list he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). In 2002 he was awarded the Certificate of Distinguished Service by Mountain Rescue - England and Wales.

Richard Smith
 

Richard offers an expertise that is practical, comprehensive, and relevant. His extensive experience includes searches, rescues, disasters, and emergency management situations combined with solo, unsupported backcountry experience.

He spent 30 years in the fields of ground search and rescue as well as emergency and disaster management. During his 25 years with the Royal Canada Mounted Police (RCMP), he was involved in ground search and rescue at all levels both as a practitioner and in the development of policies and training standards. He remains a practitioner in Search and Rescue, and Emergency Management.

Richard has been the recipient of numerous provincial and national awards in Search and Rescue and Policing. He is an 'in demand' lecturer for numerous conferences.

Patrick “Rick” LaValla
 

Rick LaValla is president and senior consultant for ERI International, Inc. (ERI), and a founding partner and senior consultant for All Hands Consulting. Rick has 36 years experience in search and rescue, emergency management, and disaster response. He worked for 14 years (1971-1984) for Washington State Department of Emergency Management. Job titles and functions included: Search and Rescue Coordinator/Assistant Director for Operations, 1972-1977, Director, Puget Sound Earthquake Preparedness/Planning Project, 1982-1984; Director of Washington State's planning and response to the Mt. St. Helens Disaster, 1980; Deputy Director, 1979-1981, and Operations Manager, 1977-1979.

In 1978, Rick founded ERI International and left government service in 1984 to direct the development of ERI products and services. Since 1985 Rick has worked for state agencies, federal agencies, local governments, emergency response organizations, foreign countries, and corporations, assisting and directing the development of: Search and rescue plans and training programs; Emergency Management Program Reviews and Evaluations; Hazard vulnerability and risk assessments; Mitigation plans; Comprehensive emergency management plans and programs; Emergency operation center design, plans and procedures; Hazard specific response plans; Training and education programs; Recovery plans; and other related emergency management services.

Rick has written, co-authored, and edited over 40 training manuals and books covering a full spectrum of subjects in search and rescue, emergency management, disaster planning, and emergency response; Assisted state and local governments with designing and implementing search and rescue program, emergency management programs, disaster plans and exercise design; Participated in numerous state and federal disaster research projects to find practical disaster planning strategies to maximize the use and benefits of a community disaster plan during emergencies; Developed a “New State Director’s Orientation Program” for the National Emergency Management Association and the Federal Emergency Management Agency; Produced "best practices" texts and training programs for emergency management, disaster response, emergency preparedness, search and rescue, and survival; Continues to play a major role in the development and dissemination of new and innovative training materials and programs throughout the world on rescue, search management and all phases of community emergency management, disaster response.

Rick Hood
 

A total of over 25 years of relevant first responder and management training, consulting, and program development, including, but not limited to: Incident Command System, search and rescue; wilderness navigation and survival; Global Positioning System; wilderness emergency medical technician; rope rescue; and team leader/field management elements. Hood has presented numerous times nationally, authored over 30 articles, and served and the lead instructor for basic and advanced programs and field evaluations nationally.

Taught numerous SAR and survival programs to local and regional responders, organizations and agencies. Programs included, but not limited to respond management, ICS and field response skills. Help develop programs, train/oversee instructors, and author training PowerPoint materials and student/instructor text. Major projects include: MCI exercise planning assistance, protocol review, on-site assessment, and recommendation for McMurdo Base, Antarctica; on-site training and program development for eight North Slope Native Alaskan villages for emergency response and navigational protocols; and designing, establishing, and conducting multi-faceted survival training for flight crews for Air Lift Northwest.

Provide a wide range of hands-on training and consulting products from wilderness navigation to MCI management to organization, agencies, and response teams. Authored 30-plus articles for Advanced Rescue Technology, Fire/Rescue, Wildland Firefighter, Emergency Fire & Police, Homeland First Response, among others. Served as Advisory Board or Contributing editor on selected publications. Presented program multiple times nationally for National Association for Search and Rescue, Wilderness Medical Society, International Technical Rescue Association, among others. Ongoing clients range from SAR teams to mapping software firm.

Served as a member, held offices, and provide training for numerous organization, including National Ski Patrol, Mt. Tahoma Trails, Volunteers for Outdoor Washington, United States Orienteering Association, Boy Scouts of America.