Rick D. Hoffman is a veteran firefighter/paramedic with more than 29 years of active duty with the City of Lancaster, OH, Fire Department, serving as lieutenant for 8 years. Since 1988, Hoffman has been a state certified fire instructor and EMS instructor and is a fire training officer for the Ohio State Fire Academy. In addition, Hoffman is the chief of the Fairfield County, OH, Special Operations Team, sits on the State Emergency Response Commission and is an assistant chief of the Bremen-Rushcreek Fire Department. He instructs Confined Space Rescue, HAZWOPER specialties with extensive teaching in hospital hazmat and WMD first responder needs. Hoffman has been an adjunct instructor for the All Hazards Training Center at the University of Findlay for more than 19 years.