Our Staff

Steve is currently serving as a firefighter with the Columbus Fire Department, assigned to Ladder Company 2, at one of the busiest stations in the country. Also serving as a NFPA rescue technician and detailed to various heavy rescue assignments.

Steve is a member of the Division’s Dive and Rescue Team, and currently serving the team as the lead instructor. Steve also serves on the Division’s Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team as an Advanced Peer. He was selected Firefighter of the Month in Sept, 2007, and has assisted with various training evolutions around the department with the Division Training Academy, including Ice Rescue, River Rescue, Saving Our Own Tactics, Large Area Search Evolutions, and Live Structure Fire Suppression.

Steve also holds an instructor rating since 2004 with the International Diving Educators Association and has trained students from Open Water through Instructor level certification.  He is a Nitrox Instructor and avidly teaches Public Safety Diving as an Instructor Trainer with PSDA & Water Rescue.

Steve is in the thick of Public Safety and has been called upon for advanced rescue training around the country.  He owns Blackwater SCUBA, which specializes in PSD.  He teaches cutting edge protocol as it relates to diving and firefighting.  Columbus SCUBA Inc. sought Steve’s expertise in this field, as he has had tremendous success and has achieved excellent marks in safe rescue diving practice.

Certifications

• Instructor (IDEAI)
• Instructor Trainer (PSDA & WR)
• Rescue Technician (NFPA)