Our Experience

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Who is Pinnacle? Pinnacle is a training and consulting group operated by five principle officers each of whom has over 24 years of experience in public service.  All have attained the rank of chief officer during their careers. They have considerable experience in volunteer and career organizations.  All are dedicated professionals with the desire to improve the performance of the integrated emergency management system as outlined by the National Emergency Management System.

• Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia State College (now University); attended the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

• 29 years experience in fire, rescue, emergency management, and instruction.

• Currently serving as Chief of Petersburg (VA) Fire Department with responsibilities for training, safety, hazardous materials, public information/affairs, and public education. He also currently serves as the Deputy Coordinator of Emergency Management.

• State certified as a Fire Instructor 4 and Officer 3, a certified EMT, adjunct instructor for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Department of Fire Programs.

• Served on the National Council on Readiness and Preparedness (NCORP).

• Provided training to the emergency management team and US Military at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

• CEO of “The Hairston Group” a training and consultant firm.

• Bachelor of Science degree from George Mason University; NFA Executive Fire Officer.

• 42 years experience in fire, rescue, and emergency management.  32 years with Prince William County, Virginia

• Held many positions in the fire department including Chief of Operations, Fire Marshal, Deputy Coordinator of Emergency Management, as well as responsibility for management of communications and training programs within the fire department.

• Instructor in emergency management for the Virginia Department. of Emergency Management.

• Emergency management consultant.

• Twelve months as a subject matter expert in an emergency management computer research project.

• Two years as president of the Virginia Emergency Management Association.

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• Formal education has focused on Emergency Management with an emphasis on preparedness, response, and recovery.

• 25 years working in public safety.

• 19 years with the City of Colonial Heights, Virginia.

• Currently holds the rank of Battalion Chief, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, and National Registered Paramedic.

• Instructor in emergency management.

• Hospital based (HICS) consultant.

• Local government elected official.

• Currently serving on a FEMA Practitioner Working Group tasked with developing a National NIMS ICS Field Operations Guide for first responders.

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• Associate degree in Fire Science from J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College.

• 26 years experience in fire, rescue and emergency management with the City of Colonial Heights.

• Colonial Heights Fire Chief since 1993. He is also responsible for the City's Emergency Communication System that dispatches all Police, Fire, and EMS calls.

• State Certified Fire Officer 3 and an EMT-Intermediate.

• Adjunct faculty instructor with both the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

• Commanded numerous disasters with the most notable being the tornadoes that struck the Tri-City area of Virginia in 1993 and the city's response and recovery efforts of September 2003 during and after Hurricane Isabel.

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• Masters degree in Public Administration from Troy State University, (his research focused on the Organizational Theory and Culture of Public Safety organizations).

• 34 years fire and rescue activities serving as both a volunteer and career officer with his most significant experience coming from his time with the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad and the City of Suffolk Fire Marshal's Office.

• Completed a career in the United States Navy retiring as a Chief Petty Officer.

• Combat veteran who served on a Mine Sweeper during Desert Storm.

• Served on the Flag Staff for Commander Amphibious Group TWO in Little Creek, Virginia.

• Appointed to serve on the Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs Joint Panel on Operations Other Than War
  - a definitive early look at the Defense Department's role in military response to civilian disasters.

• Adjunct instructor facilitating Emergency Management Courses for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

• Hired by Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006 to develop and teach the inaugural version of the Emergency Management and Incident Command System course.

• Dual-certified Fire, Explosion, and Vehicle Fire Investigator.

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