Daniel is originally from The Bronx in New York City and began his Fire Service Career in the North East. His time in the Texas Fire Service began over 43 years ago. He previously worked for the Carrollton (TX) Fire Department for nearly 10 years, serving in several capacities. He then served for two years as an International Fire Marshal for the U. S. Department of State, Foreign Building Operations, where he travelled to more than 35 countries providing fire & life safety to the United States Embassies and Consulates.  He has been with the Dallas Fire Department for the past 32 years and has held every rank up to Deputy Chief. Currently, he is the Deputy Chief of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division. He has been published several times including Firehouse Magazine and Fire Engineering Magazine. He is a prominent Public Speaker and has travelled around the United States as well as Internationally and has presented for the Fire Service as well as Corporate America. He was the TAFE 2020 Instructor of the Year. He recently gave the last keynote speech ever at Firehose Expo.

He serves as the Vice-President of the Dallas Firefighters Museum and is a Board of Director for Search-One.

Daniel lives in Plano and he and his wife Janet have three grown children. He is an avid snow skier and enjoys baseball, football and auto racing.

Keith A. Schmidt from Gonzales joined the Gonzales Volunteer Fire Department in February 1979 while being a senior in high school. Married his high school sweetheart Sara Dupree on August 14, 1982 and has been blessed with two sons Erick and Travis. While serving with the Gonzales Volunteer Fire Department he served as the President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer and Assistant Fire Chief. In December of 1988 after his father’s untimely death, he took over as President of Schmidt & Sons, Inc. a gasoline, diesel fuel, lubricants distributorship. Then in January 2009 he became the Fire Chief for the Gonzales Volunteer Fire Department. While serving in that capacity he received numerous certifications from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and completed over 1,241 hours in training. He was appointed Gonzales County Fire Marshal in December of 2010 and currently still hold this volunteer position. He graduated San Antonio College Law Enforcement Training Academy in April 2017 and now has over 1300 hours of law enforcement training. In September of 2021 he was appointed Gonzales County Sheriff, after the then current Sheriff passed away from complications of COVID-19. In November of 2022 he was elected Gonzales County Sheriff.

Jim Reidy was a Lieutenant on Ladder 46 for the San Antonio Texas Fire Department (SAFD) where he was a Firefighter for 33 years. He was also an Assistant Safety Officer and was the SAFD Quartermaster in 2018. He has been involved in Health, Safety, and PPE for 30 of his 33 years and served as a member, then Chairman, of the SAFD/Local 624 Firefighting PPE Committee, as a member of the SAFD Occupational Cancer Committee, Tool and Equipment Committee, and Apparatus Committee. Jim is a member of the NFPA 1971-1851 Committee representing the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters. He currently serves as Helmet Task Group Chair for the next edition of NFPA 1971. He serves on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Firefighter Advisory Committee as a member and past Chairman and and also as a Firefighter Cancer Support Network Rep in South Texas. Jim speaks at a variety of venues and events on Firefighter PPE Risk Assessment, Evaluation, Use, and Selection along with Firefighter Cancer Prevention and is known as a vocal advocate for firefighter health and safety. Jim currently operates Firefighter Consulting LLC and assists firefighters, departments, organizations, government, and industry with subject matter expertise and experience from half a lifetime of involvement in his profession.

My name is Vince Abrigo and I am currently serving on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Firefighter Advisory Board. I am a proud member of the Mcallen Fire Department completing 29 yrs. and hold the rank of Captain. I am currently assigned to the Fire Marshalls Office tasked with code compliance and new construction review. During my years of service, I have worked in different divisions to include the Fire Prevention, Training and Operations divisions. Most of my tenure was serving as a Lieutenant on various fire companies to include Engine, Truck and Rescue Company and served as a member of the Special Operations Team.

Jason Collier is the Fire Chief for the City of Highland Village and previously served as an adjunct instructor at Collin College for over 25 years. He is a board member of Denton County 911 system and advisory member of North Central Texas College fire academy program. Collier received an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science from Collin College. He also completed Texas Fire Chiefs Academy through the Texas Fire Chiefs Association, and the Texas Fire Service Chief Executive Officer Program through the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. He has served in the fire service for over 35 years.

Daniel Anderson is the District Chief of Suppression Training for the Cy-Fair Fire Department (CFFD) in Cypress, Texas, and coordinator for the Department’s Professional Development and Fire Training Academy Programs. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Fire Protection Technology while working towards Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration. He is a Texas Certified Public Manager, a graduate of the Texas A&M Fire Service Chief Executive Officer and National Fire Academy’s Managing Officer Programs, as well as an ISFSI Credentialed Training Officer and licensed Peace Officer.

Antonio Ramos Jr. is a Senior Captain for the Houston Fire Department, where he has served for the past 20 years. He is currently assigned to the Val Jahnke Training Facility where he oversees the certification and education division of Professional Development. Antonio received his Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences - Concentration Fire Service Administration from Texas A&M San Antonio and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Texas Southern University. Antonio is also a proud veteran and received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy.