Speakers (Orlando 24) (2024)

Colonel Matthew Clark is the Joint Project Manager (JPM) for CBRN Medical. He is responsible for leading the medical portfolio for the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND). COL Clark previously served as Senior Policy Advisor and Director of COVID-19 International Response Operations on the White House COVID-19 Response Team (WHCRT) after serving as the Lead Program Manager for the Operation Warp Speed vaccine team. On the WHCRT, he led operations to move 1.2+ billion COVID-19 vaccines to 115 countries bilaterally and through COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, involving Gavi (The Vaccine Alliance); the World Health Organization; the United Nations Children's Fund; Pan American Health Organization global organizations; and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust via the African Union.

COL Clark previously served as Joint Product Manager for Chemical Defense Pharmaceuticals in the JPEO-CBRND. His team received a Gold-level Edison Award of Innovation for high-quality, rapid product development for tightly engineered capabilities; published four Army AL&T Magazine articles; and received MG Harry Greene Awards in 2018 and 2019. He was also the first medical officer recognized as the U.S. Army’s Product Manager of the Year in 2018. In other leadership positions around the world, he directed medical clinics and laboratories, served as Military Legislative Assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives, and as the Director of the Eisenhower Leader Development Program at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Columbia University.

Colonel Clark has also published two edited books, eight book chapters, and over 30 peer-reviewed and professional articles.

Yan Racette is the Senior Hazmat Specialist at the Royal Canadian Mint, where he brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of hazardous materials management. With over 25 years of hands-on experience and in the capacity of Senior Hazmat Specialist, Yan is responsible for managing the Hazmat Program. Certified as an Advanced CBRNe Technician with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Suffield, Alberta; Hazardous Materials Technician Pro Board Certification for NFPA 1072, Standard for Hazardous Materials/ Weapons of Mass Destruction Professional Qualifications with the Emergency Management and Homeland Security in Michigan and Industrial Fire Brigade member Pro Board Certification for NFPA 1081, Professional Qualifications with the Nova Scotia Fire Service Professional Qualifications Board to name a few.

As the head of the Hazmat Program, Yan's primary responsibility is to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards. This involves developing, implementing, and facilitating various training programs, including tabletop exercises, chemical release drills, full-scale exercises, and monthly skill sets for the HAZMAT Response Teams. Yan's dedication to maintaining a safe and compliant working environment is a key driving force behind the Mint's commitment to safety both in Ottawa, Ontario and in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

In addition to training, Yan is also responsible for conducting risk assessments and developing emergency response plans.

Commandant Sébastien Bouche, is a 54 yo French firefighter, born and raised in the northernmost area of France made famous by movies like Dunkirk or 1917.
Commandant Bouche has been a fire officer since 1992 acting successively as a deputy fire chief, fire chief, PPE and breathing apparatus expert/buyer, Health and Safety officer, training manager and now DPO. He has been a Hazmat Specialist since 1993, Hazmat Chief Officer since 2005 and CBRNe Mobile Lab Deputy Chief since 2022.

COL Pete Exline grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and was commissioned into the US Army with a Mechanical Engineering degree from the United States Military Academy in 2001. He served overseas in Germany, as a platoon leader, company executive officer, and battalion S4/logistics officer from 2002-2005, deploying to Operation Iraqi Freedom I in 2003-2004. Pete then served as the battalion S6/communications officer of 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, deploying to Iraq as the FSC company commander in 2008-2009. He then earned his MS in Nuclear Engineering at Georgia Tech before serving as a USMA Physics assistant professor from 2011-2014. He then served on the 3rd Infantry Division G6 staff and deployed to the Afghanistan during 2014-2015.

After a year as the brigade S6 of 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade in Savannah, Georgia, Pete earned his PhD in Nuclear Engineering through Georgia Tech while researching at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Subsequently he moved to Fort Meade, Maryland, where he provided nuclear technical expertise to the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade and served as a branch and deputy division chief within the intelligence community. He then joined the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base, FL. He now serves as the Chief, J10-3 CWMD Operations Division, USSOCOM J10.

Lt Kelly is working in his 19th year in the fire service with 15 of the last years spent on the special operations team. Lt Kelly takes pride in being the lead instructor for Brevard County's HazMat 160 program as well as teaching all the FLUSAR technical rescue disciplines. Additionally, Lt Kelly organizes all the trainings for his departments Special Operations Team. In his free time Lt Kelly enjoys spending time with his family and friends, fishing, surfing and traveling.

Major Alberto Rios,CBRN Capabilities Deputy Branch Chief,USSOCOM J10 CWMD Plans Integrations and Assessments Division. Major Rios has three years of experience in developing and implementing SOF CBRN/CWMD strategy, plans, policy, acquisition, capability development, and readiness in support of USSOCOM. He works with multiple stakeholders across the Department of Defense, interagency, and international partners to enhance SOF's ability to counter and mitigate the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction. He is also a co-creator of Dragon Spear, USSOCOM’s CBRN Research, Development, Acquisition, Experiment (RDAX).

DAVID W. CULLIN, Ph.D.,President, Cullin Consulting.After 18 years working in various roles in commercial industry and almost 15 as a US DOD Civilian, Dr. Cullin formed Cullin Consulting, LLC to provide strategic business growth and technology commercialization consulting services to his clients.Prior to this, Dave served as Vice President of Technology and Product Management for Teledyne FLIR Defense. In this role, he led a team focused on product innovation, commercialization and developing transformative customer solutions to grow Teledyne’s market position.

Dave served in many capacities within the Teledyne FLIR Defense organization. He was General Manager of the Teledyne FLIR Defense Unmanned and Integrated Solutions business, overseeing a broad portfolio of unmanned aerial and ground systems. He served as General Manager of Teledyne FLIR’s Detection business, comprising a wide range of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) sensors, as well as systems integration capability, all mainly serving the global defense and security markets. Before Teledyne Technologies acquired FLIR Systems in 2021, Dave was General Manager of FLIR’s CBRNE business unit, where he developed and brought to market a suite of CBRNE sensors and integrated systems. Earlier, Dave was Chief Technology Officer of FLIR Government Systems after they acquired ICx Technologies, which he had joined in 2005.

Before moving to the private sector, Dave enjoyed a successful 15-year career with the U.S. Department of Defense, starting in 1991 as a Research Chemist with the Naval Surface Warfare Center. In 1996, he assumed duties as NSWCDD Project Manager of the Portal Shield Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration Program, supporting the Joint Program Office for Biological Defense (JPO-BD). In 1998, Dave was named Director of JPO-BD’s Critical Reagents Program, where he managed procurement and fielding for all of DoD’s reagent-based consumables as well as a robust research and development effort. From 2003 until 2005, he served as Director of Technology at the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense and was focused on transitioning new technologies into advanced development and procurement programs.

Lieutenant Colonel Martin Laverack assumed the SO1 FP & CCBRN post in Land Operations Command in HQ Field Army in January 2024.Commissioned into the Royal Logistic Corps from the ranks in August 2011. His initial appointment was as a Sqn 2ic in 11 EOD Regt RLC in Catterick. His other Regimental appointment was as the Sqn 2ic in DEMS training Regt where he was primarily responsible for delivery of High Threat EOD training.

As a staff officer he completed two appointments in DEODS in AHQ which led to his attendance on ICSC(L) at the Defence Academy. Subsequently he completed an Initial grade two appointment as a Requirements Manager in DE&S before taking up his appointment as the Operations Major for CBRNe in 11 EOD & Search Regt. Currently employed as SO1 FP & CCBRN he is the lead staff officer in the Land Ops Command for all land Force Protection, Operational Risk and C-CBRN activity.

Mr. Darryl Colvin is the Joint Program Executive Officer (JPEO) for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense. In this role, Mr. Colvin leads civilian and military multidisciplinary teams whose mission is to protect the U.S. Joint Forces and nation from CBRN threats by generating affordable and state-of-the-art capabilities.

Prior to this position, Mr. Colvin served as the Deputy Program Executive Officer (PEO) Missiles and Space, Acting Deputy PEO for Missiles and Space, Acting Deputy PEO Soldier, and Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management for PEO Missiles and Space. Prior to that, he was the Project Manager Ground-based Midcourse Defense Interceptor for the Missile Defense Agency. Mr. Colvin also served as Project Manager for the Lower Tier Project Office for the PEO Missiles and Space, Redstone Arsenal, AL.

Mr. Colvin served in a variety of Ordnance, Acquisition, and Research and Development assignments. His prior acquisition assignments include Operations and Integration Officer for the Army Tactical Operations Center Product Office; Product Manager for Field Artillery Launchers; Department of the Army Systems Coordinator for the Army Tactical Missile System; Executive Officer to the Deputy for Systems Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology; and Close Combat Armaments Research and Development Coordinator at Benet Laboratories.

Mr. Colvin also served as an Assistant Professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he taught Mechanical Engineering Design, Weapon Systems Design, and Capstone Design.

Dr. Scott Hartley is the CEO of Proengin Inc. which develops and manufactures chemical and biological detection systems. In this role, Dr. Hartley is responsible leading and directing Proengin operations in North American. Proengin is a leader in flame spectroscopy technology which is able to quickly and precisely identify key materials found in chemical warfare agents, precursor materials, binary agents, fourth generation agents as well as many toxic industrial chemicals. This technology is also able to identify key biological materials found in toxins, bacteria and spores. Proengin technology has been adopted for use in over 72 countries and is used for military, first responder, HAZMAT, chemical and security applications.

Prior to joining Proengin, Dr. Hartley was served in various Business Development roles for BAE Systems/Armor Holdings where he worked on personal protective equipment and combat vehicles. He also previously worked at Gentex Corporation where he held various engineering, program management and general management roles. Dr. Hartley holds BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics from Cedarville University, dual MBA’s in Finance and Operations Management from the University of Scranton, and a Doctorate of Management degree in Technology Systems Management from the University of Maryland. He holds 11 patents and serves on the Board of Directors for the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition.

Dr.Christina Baxter is the CEO of Emergency Response TIPS, LLC which provides practical, evidence-based solutions for emergency response through the development of next generation tools for enhanced situational awareness and responder safety; instructional design materials for instructor-led and web-based programs in the areas of CBRNE, hazardous materials, and clandestine laboratory response; technology transition guidance for emerging technologies; and, emergency planning for hazardous materials and emergency response. 

Prior to forming Emergency Response TIPS, LLC,Dr.Baxter was the CBRNE Program Manager for the Department ofDefense’sCombating Terrorism Technical Support Office where she was responsible for identifying capability gaps in the combating terrorism CBRNE mission space, illuminating or developing innovative solutions, and delivering them to military, interagency, and law enforcement operators in the field as rapidly as possible.Dr.Baxter holds B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Environmental Science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

She has greater than 20 years of experience in the hazardous materials/CBRN response community where she remains active in teaching and participating in standards development processes.  She is currently the chairperson of the NFPA Technical Committee on Chemical Protective Clothing and is a member of the NFPA Technical Committees on Hazardous Materials/WMD Operations, Technical Committee on Tactical and Technical SCBA, and others. Dr.Baxter is also a member of the Interagency Board, the IAFC Hazmat Committee, and the IAFF’s Hazmat Advisory Board.

Nick Spence is the Standards Manager for the National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU) which works nationally on behalf of each NHS Ambulance Trust in England to provide a coordinated approach to complex or major incidents.

This includes NHS Ambulance Command & Control, Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART), Mass Casualties response and the Special Operations Response Teams (SORT) who provide a CBRN clinical decontamination and a Marauding Terrorist Firearms Attack capability.

Employed within the ambulance service since 1994, he is a paramedic who has held a wide range of operational and management roles within HART, Air Operations and Emergency Planning, Response & Resilience.

In addition, he has previously worked for the UN WHO program to deliver CBRN training to Syrian healthcare professionals and has spent many years as part of an international USAR response team where he attended disasters around the world such as earthquakes.

As part of the NARU national on-call cadre, he was actively involved in coordination of national resources to support the NHS ambulance response to the 2018 Salisbury incidents.

Dr. Robert L. Kristovich, a Tier 2 member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), is the Director of the Chemical and Biological Technologies Department, Research and Development Directorate (RD-CB) for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). RD-CB serves as the Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO), an integral component of the Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP). As Director of DTRA JSTO, Dr. Kristovich leads an office of 200 professionals including eight divisions of scientists, researchers and administrative staff. He manages the execution of over $505 million focused on transforming science and technology to prepare for current and emerging chemical and biological (CB) threats to better protect the Joint Force, our allies, and the nation.

Prior to assuming his current position, Dr. Kristovich served as Chief of the Threat Agent Sciences Division of the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC). In that role, Dr. Kristovich directed a team of CBC experts who evaluate emerging chemical threats facing the Joint Force and the nation. Among his responsibilities, he headed the Forensic Analytical Center, one of only two U.S. laboratories accredited by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

He previously served as a senior adviser to the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Chem Bio Defense, in providing a strategic vision for how the CBDP can use science and technology to help the warfighter win in a CB-contested environment.

On Jan. 1, 2022, Dr. Kristovich was appointed as the U.S. representative of the OPCW Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), providing science and technology guidance in overseeing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) treaty. OPCW is a global body of 193 member states, including the U.S., which seeks to eliminate the production and use of chemical weapons. The SAB is a consortium of 25 preeminent experts chosen from the state parties to the CWC treaty. It provides scientific advice and support to the Director General and the state parties regarding implementation of the treaty and deterrence of chemical weapons use.

Mr. Michael A. Bailey entered the Senior Executive Service in August 2021 and is the Director of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOMCBC). In this role, Mr. Bailey oversees many of the Nation’s key chemical and biological defense research and engineering programs, both classified and unclassified.

Mr. Bailey also builds partnerships across DOD, other government agencies, industry, and academia to enhance Warfighter readiness and response to chemical and biological threats.Prior to serving as the DEVCOM CBC Director, Mr. Bailey served as the organization’s Director of Engineering.In this role, he oversaw a staff of roughly 500 engineers, scientists,logisticians, and other highly skilled professionals who work to design,build, test, and sustain CBRN capabilities for Joint Warfighters and our partners.

Before his assignments at DEVCOMCBC, Mr. Bailey was the Deputy Joint Project Manager for CBRN Sensors at the Joint Program Executive Office for CBRN Defense. Mr. Bailey served as a strategic planner for the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Strategic Studies Group. He played a critical role in helping the Army’s senior leaders understand global urbanization trends and what they mean for future force structure and capability requirements.Mr. Bailey has performed at many levels in the Army’s Research and Development enterprise, including over ten years as a laboratory scientist working on vaccines against biological warfare agents.

Mr. Bailey received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Science degree in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Public Policy from George Mason University. Mr. Bailey was also selected to attend the Eisenhower School at National Defense University, where he received a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy.Mr. Bailey holds certifications from the Defense Acquisition University in Program Management Level 3 and Science and Technology Management Level 3. His awards include two Superior Civilian Service Awards and a Commanders Award for Civilian Service.

Col. Zdzisław Salamonowicz, DSc, PhD, Eng, Associate Prof. serves at Fire University (FireU) in Warsaw in Poland in Department of Chemical and Ecological Rescue Operations. Zdzisław Salamonowicz is a graduate of the Main School of Fire Service (master engineer in fire safety engineering), Faculty of Chemistry at the Warsaw University of Technology (engineer in chemical technology, specialisation - high-energetic materials and chemical processes safety), Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering of the Lodz University of Technology (doctor in technical sciences in the field of chemical engineering, specialisation – chemical process safety) and the Warsaw University of Life Science (habilitation degree in the field of engineering and technology in discipline of environmental engineering, mining and energy).

Related with hazmat, both the preventive and operational side. Co-author of national courses and training programs in the area of HAZMAT and CBRN. Manager and contractor in over 30 research and development projects, author and co-author of over 150 publications and conference presentations, author and co-author of over 40 studies commissioned by the chemical industry in the area of process safety and the SEVESO directive. A member of national and international expert teams covering the issues of HAZMAT, CBRN and process safety

Michael Armistead, Hazmat Specialist, Nashville Fire Department

Michael Armistead currently lives in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, and is a HazMat Specialist with the Nashville Fire Department in Special Operations Bureau.

He started his career in 1992 with the Goodlettsville Fire Department, working there until 2000 joining the Nashville Fire Department. He was a member of HazMat 12 for 9 years until moving into his current role in Special Operations involved with planning of VIP visits, large Special Events, and credentialing of all personnel with both HazMat teams for Nashville.

Michael is an active member of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency HazMat Committee Board, NFL AFC South Fire Security Representative, Tennessee Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team Manager, Special Events Planner for Nashville, CBRNe Representative, and member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, an Instructor for both the State of Tennessee and the Nashville Fire Department regularly instructing HazMat Technician, Operations and Awareness. He works closely with Homeland, FBI, Secret Service, 45th CST, Department of Energy, Tennessee Highway Patrol Special Operations, Governors Executive Protection Team, Office of Emergency Management, Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators, Nashville Soccer Club, Metro Nashville Police Department Special Operations and Custom Services

Jeff has spent over 20 years with the New York City Fire Department, where he was a lead instructor of the HazMat School at FDNY’s Fire Training Academy and served the chief of Hazardous Materials Operations (HazMat Ops) on various planning committees and response details for terrorism prevention and response for New York City. He is currently a lead instructor with LSU NCBRT/ACE and is a DHS-certified instructor. Mr. Borkowski has been involved in the instructional field since 1995. He now serves as one of only five trainers for HazMat IQ, LLC. For 10 years, he was a Master Instructor for the International Association of Fire Fighters, delivering their HazMat and WMD preparedness programs to professional firefighters nationwide. Mr. Borkowski instructs for California’s Industrial Emergency Council and delivers the California Specialized Training Institute’s HazMat Technician and Specialist programs, along with other HazMat and WMD-related training.

Dr. Philipp C. Bleek is Professor in the Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies Program, Coordinator of the Cyber Collaborative, and Fellow at both the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, all at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. His research and teaching focuses on the causes, consequences, and amelioration of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons proliferation to both states and non-state actors.

Dr. Bleek currently serves as an expert on the 2022-24 Congressionally-mandated National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study on “Assessing and Improving Strategies for Preventing, Countering, and Responding to Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism,” on the “Chemical Threats” sub-group. He previously served as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs in the U.S. Department of Defense. He has held fellowships at Council on Foreign Relations, Harvard University’s Belfer Center, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Center for New American Security, among others. He has also served as an advisor to several political campaigns, a consultant to the U.S. government and non-governmental organizations, and regularly participates in Track 2 dialogues. He is a former Emergency Medical Technician (New Jersey).