Faculty

Thomas A. Bush

Chief Automotive Analyst Thomas Bush is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators, an ASE^® Master Technician, and a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator and Certified Fire and Explosions Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators. Tom has over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry and has investigated hundreds of fires to structures, vehicles, farm equipment, lumber equipment and heavy machinery.

David E. Cox P.E., C.F.E.I.

David E. Cox is the principal of Northeast Propane Systems (NPS), a company he founded in 1991 to provide both incident investigation and litigation support in the area of fuel gasses, including propane and natural gas, devices and appliances. Dave is a registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator through NAFI, and has been involved in incident investigations nationwide. Dave is intimately familiar with all manner of gas systems and appliances, including the testing and evaluation of equipment, installation in both residential and commercial structures, device and system failures and related fire and explosion analysis. Dave’s expertise and experience has been called upon in dozens of court proceedings, depositions, and trials.  He has been published multiple times on the topic and has served as a technical consultant to the MA Fire Academy. In addition to holding current memberships in the IAAI, NAFI, and NFPA, he is a member of National Propane Gas Association and serves on their Technology and Standards Committee.

Peter Cummings C.F.I., C.F.E.I.

Peter Cummings holds the rank of Sergeant and is employed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of State Police Office of the State Fire Marshal where he is responsible for the daily investigation of fire and explosion incident scenes within the three most populous counties in the commonwealth.  He is also the Team Leader and Investigator for the Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit.  Peter worked for several years as an investigator for the Narcotics and Special Investigations Unit.  He is a Certified Fire Investigator with the International Association of Arson Investigators, a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator with the National Association of Fire Investigators and a member of both organizations.  Peter is a court-qualified expert witness, and has also served as an expert witness at the Massachusetts Assistant District Attorneys’ training sessions.

Bert N. Davis Ph.D., P.E., C.F.E.I.

During the early 1980s, Dr. Bert Davis began his engineering career performing energy audits and residential contracting work.  From 1986 to 1990, Dr. Davis was the senior plant engineer at Carnegie Mellon University.  During this time he also worked as an HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractor.  In 1990, Dr. Davis founded Bert Davis & Associates (BDA) and Hyde Group.  BDA was formed to provide engineering services, and Hyde Group was formed to provide HVAC, Plumbing, Sprinkler and Electrical contracting services.  In 2006, BDA incorporated.  Dr. Davis brings to the firm over 20 years of diverse engineering and contracting experience.  Dr. Davis has extensive knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems, energy analysis, renewable energy system design and geothermal systems.  Dr. Davis is also a forensic engineering consultant with RDA, and is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator.

Richard A. Giguere C.F.I.

As Captain of the Rochester Fire Department, Richard Giguere is an integral link between the institute and the community. He knows our community well, having began his fire service career in Rochester in 1975 and worked through the ranks to his present position as Captain. He is primarily responsible for fire investigation in this community of 34,000 and as a Certified Fire Investigator through the IAAI, leads a team of three fire investigators. In addition to responding to over 1600 calls a year, the department conducts fire prevention education in the eight area elementary schools as well as at the middle school and high school level. Richard is a member of the Executive Board of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce and has been an influential member of the Institute’s Executive Advisory Committee since its inception.

Kenneth L. Grimes C.F.I, C.F.E.I.

Kenneth L. Grimes holds the rank of Sergeant and is employed by the State of Maine Office of the State Fire Marshal. He worked for several years as a Senior Fire Investigator and is presently employed as a Fire Investigations Supervisor of the Southern Division. Throughout a 28-year career in the fire and police service that culminated in this position, Ken attended trainings nationwide in all aspects of firefighting and law enforcement, from evidence collection and origin and cause determination to arson investigation and emergency management. He is a Certified Fire Investigator with the International Association of Arson Investigators, a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator with the National Association of Fire Investigators and a member of both organizations. Ken has been involved in the investigation of over 300 fire incidents, been court-qualified as an expert witness in determination of origin and cause in Superior and District courts and he is a Certified Level I Fire Training Instructor and an Instructor for the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

William G. Macomber C.F.E.I.

William G. Macomber began his electrical career in the early 1950s, working as an electrician. He obtained a Journeyman Electrician License at age 15 and Master Electrician License at 16, becoming the youngest ever in the state’s history to do so. He is a graduate of the Wentworth Institute with an Associates Degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Option Program and has completed the Reserve Officer Training Program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. He is a member of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors and has participated in many workshops on code issues and updates. He also holds memberships in the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) through which he is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator. Bill has worked in all phases of the electrical industry, including wiring and troubleshooting residential, commercial and industrial installations and also has an extensive electrical background in both the food and lumber manufacturing facilities and steam and electrical generating facilities. He has worked as a power plant supervisor and later as plant engineer in a potato processing facility. He has been involved with installations and repairs of both freon and ammonia refrigeration plants and has an extensive knowledge of both medium- and low-temperature setups. As an electrical contractor, Bill was involved in electrical installations for industrial operations, health-care facilities, lumber mills and commercial buildings. He also was involved with the installation and repair of many single- and multi-family electrical systems. Bill retired after 25+ years as a State of Maine Electrical Inspector, serving as the Senior Inspector for the last 9. In this position, he supervised 5 electrical inspectors, enforcing the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) and the related state statutes and board rules. Also while in this capacity he served as the Commissioner’s Representative as a full member of the Electricians’ Examining Board. Bill has been qualified as an expert electrical witness in Maine District and Superior Court system in both civil and criminal cases. During this time, he worked extensively with the Fire Marshal’s Office Investigators in the cause and origin of fires and testified in numerous civil litigation and arson trials. Bill has worked closely with both the US Department of Labor (MSHA) in testing and assisting mine operators to meet federal regulations and (OSHA) in their investigation of explosions and injuries originating from electrical arcs. Bill’s teaching experience includes instructing fire cause and origin courses at Maine’s Criminal Justice Academy and teaching a variety of electrical courses at Eastern Maine Technical College.

John J. Mulcahy P.E.

John Mulcahy, P.E., is an electrical forensic engineer who holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Manhattan College.  John is a licensed Professional Engineer.  A court-qualified expert witness, he has over 30 years of experience in the engineering and fire investigation fields.

Michael Nolan

Michael Nolan is a Certified Fire Investigator through the International Association of Arson Investigators, as well as a Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator through the National Association of Fire Investigators.  He was a senior detective with the South Kingstown Police Department in Rhode Island and was the lead investigator for approximately 185 fires.  As a detective and lead detective, he investigated simple and complex crimes, from homicide to larcenies, embezzlement, violation of banking laws, identity fraud, and narcotics trafficking.

Dale Robert Rush IAAI - C.F.I.

Rob is the captain in charge of a 13-man unit that handles all bomb, fire, and arson investigation incidents that fit the protocol for callout for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue in Palm Beach County, Florida.  Rob was instrumental in organizing the program with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to have all fire investigators in his division cross-trained as sheriff’s deputies. Each employee in his division currently holds the power of arrest, giving them the ability to handle their cases from the initial callout to prosecution.  Rob is a current director for the International Association of Arson Investigators and is also the Immediate Past President of the Florida Chapter of the IAAI. He is also the chairman of the IAAI Membership Committee.  Rob is on the IAAI Liaison committee as a representative for the Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina Chapters.  Rob is on the IAAI 921 Committee, and the Fire and Arson Investigator article peer review board. Rob is a licensed electrician with extensive background in the construction industry.  He is an adjunct instructor at the Palm Beach Community College Criminal Justice Complex as well as the College of Health and Public Safety.  Rob has taught classes for the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office,  the Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention (FACAP), the Florida Chapter, IAAI, the Wisconsin Chapter, IAAI, the NC Chapter, IAAI, the SC Chapter, IAAI, the Georgia Chapter, IAAI as well as the PBCFR Training Division. Rob is on staff at the Institute of Fire Science in New Hampshire and has taught private classes for various organizations in subjects such as Basic Origin and Cause, Electrical Fire Investigation, Vehicle Fire Investigation, Coordinating Arson-Related Cases between Civil and Public Agencies, Fire Dynamics, Building Loss Estimates for Fire Investigations, Interview and Interrogation, and Building Construction for the Fire Investigator.  Rob has worked many times as a requested consultant investigator on fires outside the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue response area.  Rob has worked as a consultant for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) National Response Team. Rob was awarded the State of Florida Fire Investigator of the Year Award in 2006.

Brian K. Smith C.F.I., C.F.E.I.

Brian holds the rank of Captain and is employed by Sanford, Maine Fire & Rescue.  He is also employed by NEFCO Fire Investigations as a Fire Analyst.  Brian is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator with the National Association of Fire Investigators, a Certified Fire Investigator with the International Association of Arson Investigators, a Certified Fire Investigator with the NFPA National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications and a court-qualified expert witness in determination of area of origin and cause in District and Superior Court. 

Kenneth Wood

Ken Wood’s 38 years' experience in the LP gas and pipeline industry make him an invaluable asset to the team of The Institute’s instructors in the area of gas services and appliances. Ken worked 20 years at various positions for a gas utility that also operated a propane business. He spent the last ten years of that period as the company’s Vice President and General Manager before moving on to become the Gas Safety Program Manager for the State of Vermont Public Service Department. Ken retired from the State in 2002 and became a partner of Education Training and Safety Associates (a training and consulting firm). He has been a member of the National Fire Protection Association, NARUC Gas Safety Sub Committee, National Association of Pipeline Safety Reps., New England Pipeline Safety Reps., Vermont LP Gas Education & Safety Committee, and an associate staff member of the Transportation Safety Institute as an LP gas trainer. Ken has contributed to definitive texts in his field, including a supplement to the NFPA 58 Handbook on jurisdictional LP gas systems and was a member of the committee that produced the Training Guide for Operators of Jurisdictional LP Gas Systems. More recently Ken was on a committee that produced a generic Gas Operator Qualification Plan that gives operators of small LP gas systems guidance on training and qualifying their people.  He has been involved in the investigation of gas incidents resulting in fires and explosions for 27 years.

Richard W. Wood C.F.E.I.

Rick graduated from the New Hampshire Technical College with highest honors in the AAS Fire Science program.  He then moved on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Fire Service Education & Administration at the USNH College for Lifelong Learning, graduating with Summa Cum Laude honors.  In addition, Rick completed the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy, earning a Graduate Certificate.  Since 1992, Rick has been a firefighter with the Nashua Fire Rescue Division of the Fire Marshal’s Office and is currently Co-Director of Emergency Management there.  He coordinates all functions of the emergency management division for the City of Nashua.  Rick is also a Fire Marshal in Nashua and leads a team of professionals to provide a comprehensive fire prevention approach, including fire investigation, inspection/code enforcement, public education, and plan review.  Since 2000, Rick has held the role of Inspector, during which he has been called upon to investigate the origin and cause of fires in Nashua.  Also while in this position, he has designed, scheduled and implemented Fire Inspection and Prevention programs for half of the city.  Rick coordinates the Nashua Regional Juvenile Fire Intervention Program.  In addition to these roles, Rick is a Senior Staff Instructor at the New Hampshire Fire Academy in Concord, NH and is a member of the adjunct faculty for Fire Technologies at the New Hampshire Community Technical College in Laconia, NH.  He is currently the President of the New Hampshire Fire Prevention Society (NH IAA).  Rick is the author of numerous publications, including, “Fire Investigation Response Team: A Joint Fire and Police Team” and, “So You Want to be Fire Marshal?”  Rick is a member of and has held leadership roles in many professional organizations.