The Midwest’s Best 14 Fire Science Instructors

Krakora spent 20 years with Darien/Woodridge Fire Protection District before returning to The College of DuPage. He's an Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal Fire Officer I, Instructor II, Illinois Department of Public Health Licensed Paramedic & EMS Lead Instructor, and AHA Instructor. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Benedictine University.

Mendenhall joined the Indiana faculty following years of duty in the Fire Service. He is an instructor for the IAFF peer fitness program and helped develop the Indianapolis Fire Department incumbent work-capacity test program.

Current director of the Fire Cause Determination Training Program, Martin was part of the Missouri Task Force 1, a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team that responded to the destruction of the World Trade Center. He is a licensed paramedic and certified Fire Investigator.

Evans was with the Missouri State Emergency Management for 13 years, serving as hazards planner, hazardous materials program coordinator and state training officer. He is an adviser to the FEMA Emergency Management Institute.

Kistner, Program Coordinator and Director of Graduate Studies of Fire Service Management, joined the SIU faculty in 2005. His classes have included Risk Management in the Fire Service, Governmental Aspects in the Fire Service, Labor Relations in the Fire Service, Professional Development in the Fire Service, and Public Management in Fire Service and Homeland Security.

Lt. Redd, an Indianapolis Fire Department, 13-year veteran, currently is posted to Rescue Squad at Station 10. He teaches Flashover for IFD and the FDIC-Indy conference.

Brady holds certifications as an AHA instructor and provider for BLS, PALS, ACLS, EP, NREMT-P. She earned her BSN at Marquette University.

Smith is assistant professor and coordinator of the fire science program at SWIC. He has served at Fire Chief of the Freeburg Fire Protection District since 1979 and formerly was the building inspector for the Hazelwood Fire Department in Missouri.

Dr. Thomas created and served in Kansas Fire Marshall’s Office arson canine program and investigated fires for 17 years. At KCKCC she serves as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Fire Science.

James Austad is a 25 year veteran of the fire service spending the past 20 years with the Oshkosh Fire Department. He is the Battalion Chief in charge of the emergency medical services division for the Oshkosh Fire Department. He also is the Paramedic Program Director/Clinical Coordinator for Fox Valley Technical College.

Chief Monto began his career in 1982 as a volunteer firefighter with the Maumee Fire Division. He was a paramedic for nine years and was promoted to Lieutenant of Heavy Rescue in 1992 and Fire Chief in 2003.

Loveland, CTS Fire Coordinator, served 12 years as a firefighter with the City of Moorhead and has been a registered EMT since 1992. He has a Diploma in aircraft firefighting from Lake Superior College in Duluth.

Professor Giordano holds Fire Officer III, Fire Instructor III, Incident Safety Officer, Hazardous Materials Specialist certifications from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. He is an Illinois Licensed Paramedic, EMS Lead Instructor and Advanced Cardiac Life Support Specialist.

Professor Heyns holds a National Certification as a Fire Service Instructor. He has also completed requirements for certifications with the Professional Fire Service Qualifications Board.