Doug Hexel is a career fire officer, urban search and rescue specialist, and paramedic. He is both a fire and EMS Instructor for New York State and teaches at conferences around the country, primarily focusing on “bridging the gap” between fire and EMS in technical rescue. In nearly two decades of experience working for private, commercial, and municipal agencies throughout New York, Hexel has progressed through numerous supervisory and educational roles. He is a New York State Certified Instructor Coordinator (CIC) and holds technician level certifications in rope, confined space, trench, swiftwater, and collapse rescue.